THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

JIM  TULLY 

GIFT  OF 
MRS,  JIM  TULLY 


CHARLES    DICKENS     AS    EDITOR 


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"hjr-j^L.  u  ("^ruu^ic^  ^'Tl^iA^Jt^n.';  fiA4j^' 


pi  ^7.^^7}i^/te^MQ. 


CHARLES     DICKENS 
AS     EDITOR 


BEING  LETTERS   WRITTEN   BY   HIM   TO 
WILLIAM    HENRY   WILLS 
HIS  SUB-EDITOR 


SELECTED   AND  EDITED 

BY 

R.    C.    LEHMANN 


iriTH  PORTRAITS 


NEW    YORK 

STURGIS   &   WALTON 

COMPANY 

1912 


BRADBURY,    AGNEW,   &   CO.    LD. ,    PRINTERS, 
LONDON    AND    TONBRIDGE. 


College 
Lasrarx 

PR 
PREFACE. 

Tin-:  letters  printed  in  this  volume  were  written  by 
Charles  Dickens  to  my  great-uncle,  William  Henry 
Wills,  who  first  became  closely  connected  with  him  at 
the  time  of  the  foundation  of  the  Daihj  News  in  1846, 
and  was  afterwards  for  nearly  twenty  years  his  sub- 
editor on  Household  Words  and  All  the  Year  Bound. 
With  the  exception  of  a  certain  number  (relatively 
small)  which  have  already  appeared  in  whole  or  in 
part  in  the  three  volumes  of  the  "  Letters  of  Charles 
Dickens  "  published  by  Miss  Hogarth  and  Miss  Dickens 
in  1880  and  1882  these  letters  are  new.*  They  were 
carefully  preserved  by  Wills,  and  at  his  death  passed 
to  his  widow.  She  left  them  to  her  niece,  Lady 
Priestley,  from  whose  eldest  son,  my  cousin  Mr.  E.  C. 
Priestley,  they  have  now  come  to  me.  I  desire  to 
express  my  warm  thanks  to  Miss  Hogarth  and  Mr. 
H.  F.  Dickens,  K.C.,  for  their  permission  to  publish 
this  selection  from  the  450  letters  in  my  possession. 

It  may  be  said  of  these  letters  that  their  effect  is  to 
concentrate  the  light  upon  one  side  of  Dickens's  mani- 
fold and  unceasing  activities.  They  show  him  as  an 
editor,  ardent,  but  patient ;  sometimes  impulsive,  but 
always  immovably  steadfast  in  the  execution  of  his 
purpose  ;  firm  in  his  grasp  of  principles,  but  resolutely 
careful  in  every  detail  which  might  serve  to  carry 
those  principles  into  execution ;  himself  an  indefatig- 
able worker,  and  not  content  with  anything  short  of 
hard   and   honest   work    on   the   part   of   his  fellow 

*  I  onf^ht,  perhaps,  to  add  that  t  wo  worn  printed  ))y  me  in  "  Memories  of 
Half  a  Century." 

823178 


vi  PREFACE. 

labourers  ;  generously  warm  in  his  gratitude  for  good 
service  loyally  rendered,  but  merciless  to  sham,  sloven- 
liness or  incapacity ;  always  devoted  to  good  causes 
and  perfectly  fearless  in  his  efforts  to  promote  them. 
He  had  a  consuming  desire  to  do  whatever  he  under- 
took as  thoroughly  as  it  was  capable  of  being  done, 
and  his  performance  rarely  fell  short  of  his  desire. 
This  is  no  small  thing  to  say  when  all  that  he  did  in 
addition  to  his  editorial  work  is  remembered.  Indeed, 
one  cannot  conceive  him  as  ever  taking  any  real  rest. 
He  speaks  of  himself  in  one  of  his  letters  as  "  Coming 
off  his  back  (and  the  grass)  "  in  order  to  consider 
some  business  matter,  but  even  in  that  position  he 
was,  I  am  sure,  devising  new  plans  and  novel  methods 
for  giving  effect  to  them.  In  a  letter  of  June  6th, 
1867,  he  says,  "  I  shall  never  rest  much  while  my 
faculties  last,  and  (if  I  know  myself)  have  a  certain 
something  in  me  that  would  still  be  active  in  rusting 
and  corroding  me  if  I  flattered  myself  that  it  was  in 
repose." 

In  regard  to  his  relations  with  Wills  these  letters 
form  a  very  remarkable  record,  for  they  show  how  a 
mere  official  connection,  involving  at  first  a  little 
friction,  gradually  developed  into  a  perfect  confidence 
and  a  warm  and  enduring  friendship.  Wills  did  not 
hesitate,  when  the  occasion,  as  he  thought,  arose,  to 
tender  advice  which  ran  counter  to  Dickens's  own 
inclinations — not  a  light  matter  with  a  man  who  held 
and  expressed  his  inclinations  so  strongly  as  Dickens. 
He  did  this  notably  when  Dickens  was  debating  with 
himself  the  question  of  going  to  America  (see  letter  of 
June  6th,  1867,  and  the  note  to  the  letter  of  Septem- 
ber 2Uh  of  the  same  year),  and  neither  on  that 
occasion  nor  on  any  other  was  their  friendship  clouded 


PREFACE.  vii 

for  a  moment.  I  may  be  pardoned,  perhaps,  for 
devoting  a  few  pages  to  the  career  of  this  friend  of 
Dickens : — 

William  Henry  Wills  was  born  in  Plymouth  on 
January  13th,  1810.  His  father  had  been  at  one 
time  wealthy,  his  business  being  that  of  a  ship-owner 
and  prize  agent.  No  doubt  the  close  of  the  great  war 
with  France  had  a  depressing  effect  upon  his  under- 
takings. At  any  rate  he  suffered  misfortunes  and  lost 
the  greater  part  of  his  money.  Towards  the  end  of 
1819  or  the  beginning  of  1820  he  transferred  himself 
and  his  family  to  London.  Many  years  afterwards 
Wills  described  his  journey  to  Liondon  (''  Forty  Years 
in  London,"  All  the  Year  Round,  April  8th,  1865)  : — 

"  My  mother,"  he  writes,  "  brought  me  from  the  West  of  Eng- 
land in  the  middle  of  the  severe  winter  during  which  the  present 
century  glided  out  of  its  teens.  At  that  time  stage-coach  travelling 
was  one  of  the  loudest  boasts  of  this  modest  country.  Peers 
horsed,  and  baronets  drove,  the  'crack'  conveyances  of  that  day. 
Yet  we  were  a  week  on  the  road  in  the  mail,  having  been  snowed 
up  at  a  village  on  the  edge  of  Salisbury  Plain  ;  our  guard  perish- 
ing in  a  gallant  attempt  to  push  on  with  the  mail-bags  on  the 
back  of  one  of  tlie  leaders.  How  well  I  remember  the  hasty 
dinners  at  the  gi-eat  inns  we  stopped  at  on  the  road ;  all  alike  ! — 
the  long  tal)le,  the  big  joints,  the  invariable  pigeon  pie,  the 
selfish  scrambling  of  the  passengers  to  get  their  full  three-and- 
sixpence-worth  tucked  in  in  time  for  the  warning  notes  of  the 
guard's  horn  ;  the  tin,  thin  tripod  plate-warmer  at  the  fire,  the 
nimble  waiters  in  white  cotton  stockings  and  pumps,  who  were 
constantly  wiping  plates  with  napkins  whipped  in  and  out  of  the 
side-pockets  of  their  natty  striped  jackets.  Then  once  more 
insitle  the  coach,  don't  I  gasp  at  the  recollection  of  the  smell — 
like  bad  nuts — occasioned  by  four  human  beings  performing 
aspliyxia  upon  themselves  from  prudent  dread  of  '  the  night  air '  ; 
the  word  ventilation  having  l)een  at  that  time  liardly  invented  ?  I 
shiver  to  think  of  the  cold  blast  that  woke  us  two  or  three  times 
each  night  wlion  a  cliange  of  coachman  forced  shilling  subscrip- 
tions at  the  open  door  from  each  passenger,  and  shall  I  ever  forget 
the  awe  with  which  I  regarded,  during  that  tedious  journey,  the 
lielpful  good-natured  fellow-traveller — a  real  live  Londoner — who 


viii  PREFACE. 

told  lis,  modestly,  as  if  it  were  a  mere  commonplace,  that  he  had 
actually,  spoken  with  the  Lord  Mayor  of  the  City  of  London,  face  to 
face  ?  Every  word  he  dropped  aboxtt  London  was  caught  in  my 
eager  ear  as  greedily  as  gold  let  fall  into  a  miser's  purse  :  How 
that  trees  could  actually  be  seen  even  in  the  City  ;  how  that 
there  were  one  thousand  hackney-coaches  allowed  by  government 
— no  more  and  no  less  ;  how  that  the  cries  of  London  were  attuned 
by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  that  milk  and  mackerel  were  the 
onlj^  articles  permitted  to  be  cried  on  Sundays,  because  of  their 
perishable  nature  ;  how  that  crossing-sweepers  disguised  them- 
selves as  noblemen  after  business  hours,  married  rich  wives 
whom  they  maintained  splendidly  in  suburban  palaces,  ignorant 
of  their  profession,  and  went  to  town  and  returned  home  each 
day  with  the  punctuality  of  bank-clerks,  changing  their  clothes 
on  tlie  way  to  and  fro  ;  how  that  public  opinion  fell  crushingly 
upon  any  person  who  dared  to  light  fires  or  wear  a  gi'eat-coat 
until  the  fifth  of  November,  however  soon  the  winter  may  set  in 
before  the  great  bonfire  day  ;  how  that  nobody  could  appear  out  of 
mourning  in  Lent,  nor  face  the  world  pleasantly  at  Easter  without 
bran  new  clothes  ;  how  every  country  visitor  was  bound,  within 
the  first  week  of  his  sojourn  in  London  to  ascend  St.  Paul's  and 
to  the  top  of  the  Monument,  to  inspect  the  water-works  at  London 
Bridge,  the  lions  in  the  Tower,  Mr.  Crosse's  menagerie  at  Exeter 
Change,  Miss  Linwood's  Exhibition  in  Leicester  Square,  and 
Mrs.  Salmon's  shilling  wax-works  in  Fleet  Street.  They  must 
also  wait  in  the  narrow  part  of  the  same  thoroughfare  to  sec  the 
hour  struck  on  the  big  bells  of  St.  Dunstan's  Church  by  the  iron 
giants.  All  these  ideas,  with  others  derived  from  a  fat  little 
green  volume  in  vogue  before  the  word  '  Hand-book '  had 
been  imported  from  Germany,  and  known  as  '  Leigh's  Picture  of 
London,'  filled  the  childish  imagination  with  a  wonder  and 
impatience  that  became  almost  insupportable  as  the  stages 
towards  the  metropolis  diminished.  In  the  hazy  twilight  of 
morning  congealed  breath  was  wiped  from  the  windows ;  and  a 
huge  lump  of  the  mist,  densified  into  shape  dimly  in  the  distance, 
was  pointed  out  as  Windsor  Castle.  Then  came  tearful  stories  of 
a  blind  old  king,  sometimes  bemoaning  his  mental  eclipse,  some- 
times flinging  his  coat  over  his  shoulder  and  crying  old  clothes 
round  a  padded  room. 

"  By-and-by,  bright,  sunshiny,  breezy  morning.  What  enormous 
draft-horses,  and  what  little  houses  !  Surely  this  can't  be  I-«ndon  ! 
Not  quite  ;  only  Hammersmith. 

"  Out  of  the  bewildering  excitement  of  being  .actually  in  London, 
and  the  distracting  succession  of  new  objects  passed  Ijy,  and 
passing  us,  only  two  recollections  can  be  revived,  at  this  very 
long  distance  of  time,  from  the  scene  at  the  White  Horse  Cellar, 
Piccadilly  ;  first,  the  endless  succession  of  old  clotlies-men  ;  second, 
the  number  and  perseverance  of  hawkers  of  jiale,  sour,  cold-looking 


PREFACE.  ix 

oranges,  whicli  made  even  my  young  teeth  chatter  to  behold. 
The  sound  of  '  Ole  Cio  !  "  Ole  Clo  !  "  Old  Clo  ! '  never  left  the 
ear  an  instant's  respite :  an  endless  procession  of  Jews  with 
empty  black  bags  under  their  arms,  walking  rapidly,  uttering 
exactly  the  same  sound,  but  on  different  notes.  That  was  no  time 
to  ask  questions,  and  story-book  lore  supplied  the  childish  notion 
that  they  were  all  wicked  wandering  Jews,  bound  to  let  the  world 
know  they  were  duly  performing  their  penance  by  incessantly 
exclaiming  '  Ole  Clo  !  '  as  watchmen  cried  the  hour  in  the  night. 
The  prodigious  number  of  these  candidates  for  cast  clothing  is  not 
so  wonderful  wlien  wo  remember  that  the  poor  could  get  at  that  time 
nothing  else  to  wear.  Amongst  the  great  benefits  conferred  by 
machinery  and  free  trade  on  the  present  generation  is  cheap  new 
clothing,  and  the  extinction  of  a  race  of  disreputable  hawkers. 

"  We  start  for  the  City.  What  a  glory  of  shops  on  both  sides  of 
the  way  !  A  street  full  of  scaffolding — half-built  Regent  Street ; 
Charing  Cross  ;  the  statue  of  a  man  on  horseback  close  to  the 
gates  of  the  ICing's  stables  ;  Temple  Bar  ;  St.  Paul's.  At  length 
St.  Martins-le-Grand — a  '  cheat,'  I  thought ;  for,  being  then  a 
squalid-looking  lane,  it  was  the  reverse  of  grand,  no  removal  of 
the  Post  Office  from  the  ample  premises  in  Lombard  Street  being 
then  dreamt  of.  Finally,  the  yard  of  the  Bull  and  Mouth  Inn, 
up  a  narrow  turning,  llere  my  father  had  lived  for  three  days, 
expecting  us  every  minute,  and  was  in  the  coffee-room  vnih 
groups  of  other  persons  waiting  for  friends  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  discussing  chances  and  possibilities  of  their  having 
perished  in  the  snow,  like  the  mail  guard.  No  post  letters  could 
precede  us,  and  the  joy  of  tliat  meeting,  now  nearly  haK  a 
century  old,  swells  my  heart,  even  as  I  write  these  words." 

The  family  made  their  home  in  Somers  Town,  and 
there,  at  "  The  Polygon,"  in  the  middle  of  Clarendon 
Square,  Wills  was  put  to  school  with  "  a  genteel  old 
lady,  professing  in  her  prospectuses  the  strictest 
exclusion  of  the  sons  of  tradesmen."  Of  the  immedi- 
ately succeeding  stages  of  Wills's  history  I  have 
no  accurate  details.  lie  tells  us  in  the  article  from 
which  I  have  quoted  that,  after  leaving  school,  he 
had  to  take  the  walk  to  the  Strand  every  day.  In 
the  sketch  of  his  life,  which  appears  in  the  "Dic- 
tionary of  National  Biography,"  it  is  stated  that  at 
his  father's  death  the  support  of  the  family  devolved 
upon   Wills,    and   it   is    added    that    he    became   a 


X  PREFACE. 

journalist  and  contributed  to  periodicals.  I  know  he 
did  not  go  to  a  university,  and  I  think  it  is  likely 
that,  having  been  placed  in  some  office  (whether 
mercantile  or  journalistic  I  cannot  say),  he  was 
gradually  drawn  into  the  vocation  of  literature.  I 
suppose  he  bombarded  editors  in  the  usual  way.  He 
is  known  to  have  contributed  to  the  Penny  and 
Saturdmj  Magazines.  At  any  rate  the  first  letter  in 
this  book  shows  that  in  1837  he  had  sent  two  contri- 
butions to  Dickens,  then  editor  of  Bentleif  s  Miscellantj, 
that  one  of  these  was  accepted,  and  that  further 
contributions  were  invited.  After  this  the  first 
authentic  news  I  can  obtain  of  him  is  that  he  had 
made  a  sufficient  literary  reputation  to  warrant  his 
being  asked  to  join  the  enterprising  company  of  those 
who,  under  Landells,  Henry  Mayhew  and  Mark 
Lemon,  were  in  1841  engaged  in  founding  Punch. 
From  the  first  he  was  a  member  of  the  literarj'^  staff 
of  that  paper,  he  is  believed  to  have  helped  in  the 
drafting  of  its  prospectus,  and  he  is  known  to  have 
contributed  to  its  first  number.  Many  years  ago  he 
himself  showed  me  the  early  volumes  of  Punch  in 
which  he  had  marked  his  own  contributions,  and  I 
can  remember  that  the  epigram  on  Lord  Cardigan 
("The  Blackballed  of  the  United  Service  Club")  was 
amongst  them.  He  became  the  dramatic  critic  of  the 
paper,  and  his  contributions  in  prose  and  verse,  though 
latterly  in  decreasing  quantities,  seem  to  have  continued 
until  1848. 

In  the  meantime,  however  (in  1842),  he  had  gone 
to  Edinburgh,  having  been  appointed  assistant  editor 
of  Chamhcrs''s  Journal.  I  have  a  copy  of  a  letter 
written  by  him  to  William  Chambers  in  Edinburgh, 
on    November   4th,    1842,    in   which   he   says:    "I 


PREFACE.  xi 

cheerfully  accept  your  offer  of  the  situation  of  literary 
assistant  in  your  office  at  £300  per  ann.  .  .  .  Before 
taking  a  long  farewell  of  London  I  have  arrange- 
ments to  make  which  will  occupy  me  at  least  a 
week;  so  that  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  you  in  Edinburgh  till  about  the  12th  inst." 
This  position  he  retained  for  three  years,  but  his 
literar}"  connection  with  the  journal,  though  inter- 
rupted for  a  time,  was  resumed  again,  for  the  records 
of  the  publishing  office  show  that  in  1849,  when  he 
was  in  London,  he  was  a  pretty  regular  contributor 
and  was  receiving  the  handsome  remuneration  of 
£10  a  week  for  his  articles.  In  1845,  I  think — I 
am  sorry  I  cannot  fix  the  date  with  any  greater 
precision — he  married  Janet,  the  sister  of  William 
and  Eobert  Chambers. 

Towards  the  end  of  1845  he  was  back  in  London 
to  take  part  in  another  journalistic  venture.  The 
Daihj  Neii's  was  in  process  of  establishment  under  the 
editorship  of  .Dickens,  and  Wills  was  appointed  a 
member  (probably  the  chief)  of  the  sub-editorial  staff 
and  secretary  to  the  editor.  The  first  number  appeared 
on  January  21st,  1846,  but  in  less  than  three  weeks 
IJickens  resigned  his  editorship  to  John  Eorster,  who 
continued  to  hold  it  during  the  greater  part  of  what 
he  himself  describes  as  "  that  weary,  anxious,  laborious 
year."  Wills  remained  on  the  paper,  and  must  have 
proved  his  ability  to  the  new  editor's  satisfaction,  for 
it  was  Forster  who,  when  Household  Words  was 
established,  suggested  to  Dickens  that  Wills  should 
be  his  assistant.  "  There  remained,"  says  Forster 
("  Life,"  II.,  422) ,  "  only  a  title  and  an  assistant  editor : 
and  I  am  happy  now  to  remember  that  for  the  latter 
important  duty  Mr.  Wills  was  chosen  at  my  suggestion. 


xii  PREFACE. 

He  discharged  its  duties  with  admirable  patience 
and  ability  for  twenty  years,  and  Dickens's  later  life 
had  no  more  intimate  friend."  When,  in  1859, 
Household  Words  gave  way  to  All  the  Year  Round, 
Wills  went  on  as  "  sub-editor  "  to  the  new  publication. 

From  the  moment  of  his  appointment  on  Household 
Words  Wills  was  di-awn  more  and  more  closely  within 
the  orbit  of  Dickens.  The  letters  in  this  book  suffi- 
ciently show  that  Dickens,  in  spite  of  all  his  other 
work  and  his  frequent  absences  abroad,  kept  a  very 
close  hold  on  all  that  concerned  his  weekly  journal. 
Wills,  however,  was  his  alter  ego,  and  a  large  part  of 
the  heavy  burden  of  work  and  responsibility  fell  on 
his  shoulders.  The  letters  themselves  prove  how 
generously  Dickens  appreciated  his  sub-editor's 
work.  Their  pages  are  brightened  by  frequent  expres- 
sions of  confidence,  regard  and  affection.* 

Wills  was  secretary  to  the  Guild  of  Literature  and 
Art,  and  at  the  end  of  1851  he  accompanied  Dickens 
during  a  part  of  the  theatrical  tour  undertaken  for 
the  benefit  of  that  institution.  So  far  as  I  can  discover, 
there  was  only  one  other  piece  of  "outside"  work 
that  Wills  took,  and  that  was  when,  in  1855,  at 
Dickens's  recommendation,  he  accepted  the  position 
of  almoner-secretary  to  Miss  Coutts  (afterwards  the 
Baroness  Burdett-Coutts). 

Wills,  though  his  opportunities  for  indulging  his 
tastes  had  been  few,  had  always  had  a  great  liking  for 
country  life  and,  in  particular,  for  the  sport  of  fox- 
hunting, of  which,  like  John  Leech,  he  was  an 
ardent  follower.      In   18G7  he  decided   to  move  his 


•  I  refer  particularly  to  December  14th,  18r)3 ;  October  27tli,  18r)4  ; 
February  15tli,  1850  ;  January  2iul,  18(>2  ;  April  f.th,  1802  ;  May  2()l.li,  18G4, 
and  Novenilicr  Srd,  1867  (in  tiie  Introduction  to  that  year). 


PREFACE.  xiii 

headquarters  from  London  into  Hertfordshire,  having 
taken  a  pleasant  house  named  "  Sherrards,"  near 
Welwyn.  Here  he  was  able  to  hunt  to  his  heart's 
content  with  the  Hertfordshire  hounds.  He  was  an 
absolutely  fearless  rider,  and  his  preference  was  for 
large  and  powerful  horses,  to  the  control  of  which  his 
muscular  strength — for  he  was  very  thin  and  slightly 
built — was  not  always  quite  adequate.  His  thinness, 
indeed,  was  the  constant  object  of  his  friends'  chaff. 
One  story  related  how  someone,  noticing  his  absence 
from  a  gathering  and  asking  where  he  was,  had  been 
advised  to  look  for  him  in  the  flute-case  and  had  found 
him  snugly  tucked  up  there.  Another  told  how  an 
absent-minded  old  lady,  sitting  next  him  at  dinner,  had 
mistaken  his  leg  for  the  leg  of  her  chair  and  had 
curled  her  own  leg  comfortably  round  it.  As  to  his 
mounts,  I  remember  that  on  one  occasion  I  rode  on  a 
pleasure  jaunt  with  him,  and  I  noticed,  at  first  with 
some  surprise,  that  his  horse,  a  great  bony  animal  with 
a  Eoman  nose,  would  suddenly  put  its  head  down 
between  its  knees  and,  without  any  previous  consulta- 
tion with  its  rider,  go  off  for  a  hundred  yards  or  so 
at  a  gallop,  thereupon  calmly  resuming  its  solemn 
walk.  This  happened  over  and  over  again,  but  it 
provoked  no  comment  from  my  uncle,  who  thoroughly 
enjoyed  his  outing.  In  1868,  while  Dickens  was  in 
America,  Wills  did,  however,  meet  with  a  bad  accident 
in  the  hunting-field.  He  was  thrown  on  his  head  and 
was  for  some  time  in  great  danger,  and  even  after  he 
had  recovered  he  felt  the  effects  of  the  concussion. 
In  the  following  year  he  decided  to  retire  from  active 
journalistic  work,  being  then  in  his  sixtieth  year. 

He  settled  down  very  comfortably  at  "  Sherrards  " 
and  took  his  part  in  the  life  of  the  country-side.     He 


xiv  PREFACE. 

became  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  the  Hunt,  was 
appointed  a  magistrate,  and  elected  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Guardians.  He  survived  his  great  friend 
and  chieftain  more  than  ten  years,  and  died  on  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1880. 

In  1850  he  edited  "  Sir  Koger  de  Coverley,  by  the 
Spectator."  In  1861  he  published  "  Old  Leaves 
Gathered  from  Household  Words,^^  a  collection  of 
his  contributions,  affectionately  inscribed  "  To  The 
Other  Hand,  whose  masterly  touches  gave  to  the  Old 
Leaves  here  freshly  gathered  their  brightest  tints." 
In  the  same  year  he  published  an  anthology  entitled 
"Poets'  Wit  and  Humour,"  with  illustrations.  This 
contained  two  specimens  from  his  own  pen.  He  also 
published,  under  the  title  of  "  Light  and  Dark,"  a 
selection  from  his  articles  in  Chambers's  Journal. 

Mrs.  Wills  survived  her  husband  for  twelve  years. 
Dickens  had  a  great  regard  for  her  and  much 
appreciated  her  delightful  qualities — her  wit,  her 
humour,  her  gift  for  the  telling  of  a  Scotch  story  or 
the  singing  of  a  Scotch  song.  One  of  her  sayings  is 
recorded  by  Mr.  Spielmann  in  his  "  History  of 
Punch "  : — how  she  had  noticed  that  those  who 
advocated  the  rights  of  women  were  generally  the 
left  of  men.  Of  a  small  and  spindle-shanked  boy 
relation  in  a  Highland  suit,  she  remarked  that  his 
legs,  no  doubt,  would  be  better  in  the  breech  than  in 
the  observance. 

After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Wills  came  to 
London,  and  died  there  on  October  24th,  1892. 


I  have  prefixed  introductions  to  the  letters  of  each 
year,  not  with  any  intention  of  giving  an  exhaustive 


PREFACE.  XV 

account  of  Dickens's  life,  but  solely  for  the  purpose  of 
explaining  the  story  of  the  letters  and  making  clear 
the  allusions  they  contain.  In  order  to  carry  out  this 
purpose  more  fully  I  have  also  added  footnotes 
wherever  it  seemed  desirable. 


For  the  identification  of  the  authors  of  contributions 
to  HouseJiold  Words  I  have  availed  myself  of  the 
Office  Book  of  that  journal.  This  book,  which  is  now 
in  my  possession,  was  kept  and  posted  up  week  by 
week  by  my  uncle.  In  one  column  he  wrote  the 
name  of  the  author,  in  another  the  title  of  the  article,  in 
a  third  its  length  in  columns,  in  a  fourth  the  amount 
paid  for  it,  while  in  a  fifth  he  showed  in  what  manner 
and  when  the  payment  was  made.  This  book  covers 
every  issue  of  Household  Words.  Unfortunately  no 
such  book  is  available  for  All  the  Year  Round. 

I  have  referred  frequently  to  Forster's  "  Life  of 
Charles  Dickens "  in  three  volumes  and  to  the 
"Letters  of  Charles  Dickens"  published  (also  in 
three  volumes)  by  Miss  Hogarth  and  Miss  Dickens. 
In  referring  to  the  former  I  have  used  the  word 
"  Life  "  {e.g.,  ^-'Life,"  II.,  190)  ;  for  the  latter  I  have 
used  the  term  "  Letters  "  {e.g.,  "Letters,"  IIL,  137). 
In  the  "  Letters  "  I  have  been  able  to  note  a  few 
minor  inaccuracies  in  regard  to  dates,  and  a  few 
cases  in  which  by  an  error  due,  doubtless,  to  con- 
fusion in  a  great  mass  of  loose  sheets,  a  paragraph 
from  one  letter  has  been  incorporated  into  another  of 
a  different  date. 

Wills's  letters,  five  of  which  (to  Dickens)  will  be 
found  in  the  course  of  this  book,  while  parts  of  a  few 


xvi  PREFACE. 

others  have  been  quoted,  are  taken  from  an  okl  MS. 
book  in  which  Wills  entered  copies  of  some  of  his 
letters. 

The  photographs  reproduced  in  this  book  are  from  a 
collection  formerly  in  the  possession  of  Dudley  Costello, 
one  of  the  actors  in  the  ''  Guild  "  performances  of 
1851,  and  a  contributor  to  Household  Words. 

II.  C.  L. 

Janimry,  1912. 


CONTENTS. 


PAQK 

PKEFACE         V 

BENTLEY'S    MISCELLANY— 

1837—1845 3 

THE    DAILY   NEWS— 

1846—1849 9 

HOUSEHOLD    WORDS— 

1850 19 

1851 44 

1852 76 

1853 96 

1854 121 

1855 157 

1856 192 

1857 225 

1858 238 


ALL  THE  YEAR 

1859  . 

1860  . 

1861  . 

1862  . 

1863  . 

1864  . 

1865  . 

1866  . 

1867  . 

1868  . 

1869  . 

1870  . 

INDEX  . 
D,E. 


ROUND— 


261 
276 
283 
301 
321 
331 
340 
347 
353 
377 
389 
394 

397 


PORTRAITS. 


CHARLES  DICKENS Frontispiece 

WILLIAM   HENRY  WILLS To  face  ]).     4 

WILKIE  COLLINS „  96 

WILLIAM   MAKEPEACE  THACKBBAY „  176 


I 

BENTLEY'S    MISCELLANY 


D.E. 


BENTLETS   MISCELLANY. 


1837. 

Dickens  was  editor  of  Benthi/s  Miscellany  from 
January,  1837,  for  two  years.  In  a  letter  to 
Mr.  W.  L.  Sammins  ("Letters,"  III.,  12),  dated 
January  31st,  1839,  he  speaks  of  himself  as  being 
"no  longer  its  editor."  His  successor  was  Harrison 
Ainsworth. 

The  original  of  the  following  letter,  the  first 
written  by  Dickens  to  Wills,  is  undated  and  is  Avritten 
on  black-edged  paper.  Wills  has  added  to  it  this 
pencil  note:  "Date  probably  1837.  Mourning  for 
Mary  Hogarth,  his  sister-in-law,  who  died  in  his 
house  May  7th.  The  '  first  great  grief  of  his  life.'  " 
This  letter,  therefore,  in  which  Dickens  proposes  to 
insert  Wills's  "  little  poetic  tale  "  in  the  July  number, 
must  have  been  written  after  May  7th,  but  before  the 
middle  of  June,  when  the  July  number  would  pre- 
sumably be  made  up.  At  this  time  "  Pickwick  "  was 
still  running  in  monthly  parts,  and  "  Oliver  Twist," 
begun  in  January  of  this  year,  was  continuing  its 
appearance  in  Bentleifs  Miscellany. 


48,  Doughty  Strp^et,  Mecklenbuugh  Square, 

Wednesday  Morning. 

Mr.  Dickens  presents  his  compliments  to  Mr.  W.  H. 
Wills,  and  begs  to  apologise  to  him  for  the  delay  which 
has  occurred  in  returning  the  inclosed  paper,  which 
has  been  quite  accidental.  Mr.  Dickens  would  have 
accepted  it  with  much  pleasure,  had  not  so  many 
papers  founded  on  the  same  idea   (translations  and 

B  2 


4  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1837 

otherwise)  appeared  in  our  periodical  Literature  of 
late  years.  It  is  curious  that  he  has  by  him  at  this 
moment  no  less  than  three  which  have  been  offered 
for  the  Miscellany  J  and  the  main  feature  of  each  of 
which,  is,  the  very  same  delusion  that  Mr.  Wills 
describes. 

The  little  poetic  tale  pleases  Mr.  Dickens  very  much, 
and  he  proposes  to  insert  it  in  the  July  Number.  He 
Avill  be  happy  at  all  times  to  pay  the  promptest 
attention  to  anything  Mr.  Wills  may  send  him. 


For  the  next  eight  years  I  find  no  letters,  and  I 
assume  that  Wills  did  not  become  actually  acquainted 
with  Dickens  until  he  met  him  in  1845 — 1846  in  con- 
nection with  the  establishment  and  issue  of  the 
Daily  News. 

I  append  a  short  summary  of  the  chief  events  in 
Dickens's  literary  career  dui'ing  these  years  : — 


1838. 

"Oliver  Twist,"  which  ran  in  Bentleijs  Miscellany 
during  1837  and  this  year,  was  published  in  three 
volumes. 

Nine  monthly  parts  of  "  Nicholas  Nickleby " 
appeared,  April  to  December. 


1839. 

Monthly  parts  of  "Nicholas  Nickleby"  appeared 
from  January  to  October.  The  book  was  published 
complete  in  October. 


^-^^  . 


1845J  SIX   YEARS.  5 

1840  and   1841. 

"Master  Humphrey's  Clock,"  containing  "The 
Old  Curiosity  Shop  "  and  "  Barnaby  Eudge,"  ran  in 
eighty-eight  weekly  parts. 

(In  1841  Wills  helped  to  found  Punch  and 
became  a  member  of  its  staff.) 

1842. 

Dickens  went  to  America  in  January  and  returned 
home  in  July.    The  "  American  Notes ' '  were  published. 

(Wills  went  to  Edinburgh  to  help  in  editing 
Chamhers^s  Journal.) 

1843. 

Twelve  monthly  parts  of  "Martin  Chuzzlewit" 
were  issued  from  tfanuary  to  December. 

1844. 

"  Martin  Chuzzlewit"  continued  to  run  in  monthly 
parts  until  July,  when  the  complete  volume  was 
published. 

In  the  summer  Dickens  went  to  Italy,  returning  to 
England  for  a  short  visit  towards  the  end  of  the  year. 
"  The  Chimes  "  published. 

1845. 

Dickens  returned  to  Italy,  coming  back  to  England 
in  June. 

(Wills  returned  to  London  to  join  the  staff  of  the 
Daily  Neivs.) 


II 

THE    DAILY    NEWS 


THE   DAILY  NEWS. 


1846. 

In  this  year  Dickens,  who  during  the  autumn  of 
the  previous  year  had  been  actively  engaged  in  pre- 
parations for  the  establishment  of  the  Daily  News, 
became  its  first  editor.  Wills  was  at  this  time,  and 
had  been  since  its  foundation  in  1841,  a  member  of 
the  staff  of  Punch.  He  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  sub-editorial  staff  of  the  Daily  Neivs  and  secre- 
tary to  Dickens.  The  first  number  of  the  Daily  ISleivs 
was  issued  on  January  21st,  its  price  being  6d. 
Dickens  resigned  his  editorship  on  February  9th, 
after  a  tenure  of  less  than  three  weeks,  and  went 
abroad. 

Clarkson  Stanfield,  E.A.  (1794—1867),  who  is 
mentioned  in  the  letter  of  March  2nd,  as  wishing  to 
become  a  subscriber  to  the  Daily  News,  was  one  of 
Dickens's  best  friends  and  his  frequent  assistant  in 
his  theatrical  enterprises.  Before  becoming  distin- 
guished as  a  marine  painter,  he  had  been  in  the 
Navy  and  had  served  as  a  sailor  on  the  same  ship  on 
which  Douglas  Jerrold  was  a  midshipman.  Subse- 
quently he  became  a  theatrical  scene-painter.  In  1832 
he  founded  the  Society  of  British  Artists  in  conjunc- 
tion with  David  Eoberts  and  others. 

The  letter  of  April  22nd  refers  to  the  following 
account  in  the  Daily  News  of  April  7th  of  the  first 
dinner  of  the  General  Theatrical  Fund,  held  under  the 
chairmanship  of  Dickens  on  the  previous  evening 
("  Life,"  II.,  195)  :— 

GENERAL  THEATRICAL  FUND. 

Last  evening  the  first  dinner,  and  the  seventh  anniversary  of 
the  estabhsliment  of  the  General  Theatrical  Fund  was  celebrated 
at  the  London  Tavern.     Charles  Dickens,  Esq.  presiding. 


10  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1846 

After  the  usual  loyal  and  preliminary  toasts,  the  Chairman,  in 
proposing  "  Prosperity  to  the  General  Theatrical  Fund,"  explained 
its  objects.  The  theatrical  funds  already  in  existence — those 
attached  to  Drury  Lane  and  Covent  Garden  Theatres,  which  only 
extend  their  benefits  to  persons  having  long  engagements  at  those 
theatres.  But  it  was  now  nearly  impossible  to  comply  with  the 
conditions  for  sharing  the  advantages  of  those  funds.  Covent 
Garden  is,  in  a  dramatic  point  of  view,  a  vision  of  the  past ;  and 
as  to  Drury  Lane,  it  is  so  exclusively  devoted  to  opera  and  ballet, 
that  the  stiitue  of  Shakspeare  which  is  placed  on  its  portico  serves 
as  emphatically  to  mark  Shakspeare's  tomb  as  that  at  Stratford-on- 
Avon.  The  life  of  the  country  performer,  who  has  not  been  able 
to  command  a  high  position,  is  not  passed  on  a  bed  of  roses,  but 
of  very  artificial  flowers,  indeed.  He  who  of  ten  gives  away  magnifi- 
cent fortunes  has  to  exist  upon  fifteen  shillings  per  week.  Yet 
it  is  good  to  know,  that  for  the  seven  years  during  which  the  fund 
has  existed,  the  members  have,  despite  all  their  struggles,  paid  up 
their  subscriptions.  These  are  especially  the  class  of  performers 
who  stand  in  need  of  such  a  fund  as  the  one  whose  anniversary 
is  now  being  kept.  When  they  have  passed  from  before  the 
glittering  row  of  lights,  let  us  aid  them  in  retiring  to  comfort, 
and,  if  possible,  sufficiency.  Having  taught  many  a  wholesome 
lesson,  and  beguiled  us  of  many  a  pleasing  smile,  they  have  been 
our  benefactors  and  friends,  let  us  not  therefore  forget  them  in 
their  old  age. 

The  Hon.  Fitzharding  Berkeley,  M.P.,  proposed  the  "  Health  of 
the  Chairman,"  whicii  was  drunk  with  great  enthusiasm. 

Mr.  C.  Dickens  felt  deeply  grateful  for  tlie  manner  in  which  the 
toast  had  been  received,  tlie  more  so  as  he  felt  a  great  interest  in 
the  association. 

The  chairman  having  sat  down, 

Mr.  CuLLENFORD,  the  Secretary  of  the  Society,  read  a  list  of  sub- 
scriptions, amongst  which  were  the  Hon.  F.  Berkeley,  Ctl. ;  the 
Hon.  Dr.  Hope,  101. ;  Sir  Bellingham  Graham,  101.  ;  Luke 
Hansard,  Esq.,  251. ;  B.  B.  Cabbell,  Esq.,  211. ;  James  Strutt,  Esq., 
101. ;  T.  P.  Cooke,  Esq.,  51. ;  D.  W.  Osbaldiston,  Esq.,  5i.,  besides 
many  others. 

The  Chairman  next  proposed  the  health  of  Mr.  B.  Webster,  but 
that  gentleman  being  absent,  Mr.  Douglas  Jcrrold  having  been 
called  on  returned  thanks. 

Mr.  Dickens  then  proposed  the  health  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Buckstone, 
the  Treasurer  of  the  fund,  the  solvency  of  which  had,  he  was 


1846]  GENERAL  THEATRICAL   FUND.  11 

happy  to  say,  not  ^been  at  all  impaired  by  the  treasurer  having  of 
late  been  constantly  asking  a  great  many  persons  to  "  Lend  him 
Five  Shillings." 

Mr.  BucKSTONE,  in  returning  thanks,  adverted  to  the  advantages 
of  the  society.  To  the  other  theatrical  funds  no  individuals,  even 
though  they  were  attached  to  the  two  large  houses,  could  share 
their  benefits,  if  they  were  dancers  or  pantomimists,  whilst  the 
length  of  time  required  to  elapse  before  the  regular  performer 
could  begome  eligible  for  the  fund,  made  him  eligible  for  the 
workhouse.  The  General  Theatrical  Fund,  however,  provided 
for  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  actors,  provided  they  shall  have 
paid  their  subscriptions  during  seven  years.  But  for  this  institu- 
tion, where  could  the  decayed  English  performer  turn  for 
support?  Nowhere  but  to  the  General  Theatrical  Fund,  and  the 
treasurer  hoped  that,  by  the  liberality  of  the  public,  the  demands 
of  the  fund  would  never  exceed  the  means  of  meeting  them. 

Several  toasts  were  drunk,  the  whole  under  the  experienced 
generalship  of  the  well-known  O'Toole.  The  meeting  separated 
at  a  convivial  hour,  after  enjoying  an  excellent  dinner. 

Between  the  speeches  several  musical  performances  were  given 
by  the  Misses  Rainsforth,  Williams,  M,  Williams,  Kate  Loder,  and 
Madame  Albertazzi,  Mr.  Godefroid  elicited  great  applause  by  his 
performance  on  the  harp,  and  Mr.  Hobbs  by  his  clear  and 
agreeable  singing. 


Offices  of  the  Daily  Njnv,s, 
Whitefriaes, 

Tuesday  Night. 

(Date  added  in  pencil  by  W.  H.  W.,  ith  Feb.,  1846). 

My  Dear  Mr.  Wills: — I  dine  out  to-morroAV 
(Wednesday)  and  next  day  (Thursday)  and  shall  not 
be  here  either  evening  until  rather  late.  Will  you 
have  the  goodness  to  let  the  Sub  Editors  know  this — 
and  as  I  shall  not  wish  to  be  detained  here  unneces- 
sarily, to  ask  them  to  have  ready  for  nic  anything  {if 
anything)  requiring  my  attention. 

You  may  tell  them  at  the  same  time,  if  you  please, 


12  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1846 

that  I  shall  not  he  here,  generally,  on  Sunday  nights ; 
and  that  I  shall  always  wish  to  let  them  know  of  the 
general  arrangements  for  Sunday  nights,  on  Fridays 
before  I  go  away. 

Faithfully  yours  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 


Devonshire  Terrace, 

Sixteenth  February j  1846. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Wills  : — I  miss  you  a  great  deal 
more  than  I  miss  the  Paper. 

May  I  ask  you  to  reply  to  all  strange  letters  coming 
to  the  office  addressed  personally  to  me,  that  my 
connection  with  the  D.N.  does  not  extend  to  the 
consideration  or  settlement  of  such  matters,  and  that 
I  have  forwarded  the  letter  to  the  Editor — dating,  in 
all  such  cases,  from  here.  I  have  sent  this  answer  to 
all  the  enclosed  documents  that  I  have  marked  with  a  X. 

Among   them,  is   an   uncrossed   epistle  from  one 

Mrs. ,  referring  to  a  first  letter  which  I  have  not 

received.     Do  you  know  what  it  is  about  ?     If  she 
wants  money,  I  do  not  like  her  style  of  correspondence 
at  all,  and  would  rather  plead  (as  well  I  may)   the 
immense  number  of  similar  appeals. 
Always  believe  me, 

(The  signature  has  been  cut  off). 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Eighteenth  February j  1846. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Wills  : — I  have  written  to  Howitt, 
and  to  Mr.  Manly,  and  to  Keynard  the  Fox.  I  think 
the  pamphlet  by  the  latter  gentleman  had  better  "  be 
dealt  with,"  favourably,  ''  on  the  premises." 


1846J  APPEALS  FOR  CHARITY.  18 

Do  look  at  the  enclosed  from  Mrs.  What's-her- 
name.  For  a  surprising  audacity,  it  is  remarkable 
even  to  me,  who  am  positively  bullied,  and  all  but 
beaten,  by  these  people.  I  wish  you  would  do  me 
the  favour  to  write  to  her  (in  your  own  name  and 
from  your  own  address)  stating  that  you  answered  her 
letter  as  you  did,  because  if  I  were  the  wealthiest 
nobleman  in  England  I  could  not  keep  pace  with  one- 
twentieth  part  of  the  demands  upon  me — and  because 
you  saw  no  internal  evidence  in  her  application  to 
induce  you  to  single  it  out  for  any  especial  notice. 
That  the  tone  of  this  letter  renders  you  exceedingly 
glad  you  did  so  ;  and  that  you  decline,  for  me,  holding 
any  correspondence  with  her.  Something  to  that 
effect,  after  what  flourish  your  nature  will. 

Faithfully  yours  always, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Mondmj  Morning,  Second  Marchj  1846. 

My  Dear  Mr.  "Wills  : — I  really  don't  know  what 
to  say,  about  the  New  Brunswicker.  The  idea  will 
obtrude  itself  on  my  mind  that  he  had  no  business  to 
come  here  on  such  an  expedition ;  and  that  it  is  a 
piece  of  the  wild  conceit  for  which  his  countrymen 
are  so  remarkable  ;  and  that  I  can  hardly  afford  to  be 
steward  to  such  adventurers.  On  the  other  hand,  your 
description  of  him  pleases  me.  Then  that  purse  which 
I  never  could  keep  shut  in  my  life  makes  mouths  at 
me,  saying  "  See  how  empty  I  am  !  "  Then  I  fill  it; 
and  it  looks  very  rich  indeed. 

I  think  the  best  way  is,  to  say,  that  if  you  think 
you  can  do  him  any  permanent  good  with  five  pounds 
(that   is,  get  him  home  again)  I  will  give  you  the 


14  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1846 

money.  But  I  should  be  very  much  indisposed  to 
give  it  him,  merely  to  linger  on  here  about  town  for 
a  little  time,  and  then  be  hard  up  again. 

As  to  employment,  I  do  in  my  soul  believe  that 
if  I  were  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  I  should 
have  been  aground  long  ago,  for  the  patronage  of  a 
messenger's  place. 

Say  all  that  is  civil  for  me  to  the  proprietor  of  the 
Illustrated  London  News,  who  really  seems  to  be  very 
liberal.  "  Other  engagements,"  &c.,  &c.,  "  prevent 
me  from  entertaining,"  &c.,  &c. 

Faithfully  yours  ever, 

C.  D. 

Will  you  tell  the  publisher  to  cause  to  be  sent  to 
Clarkson  Stanfield,  Esquire,  R.A.,  48,  Momington 
Place,  Hampstead  Eoad,  a  complete  set  of  the  D.N. 
to  this  time — and  to  be  regularly  continued.  He 
wishes  to  be  a  Subscriber. 


Devonshire  Tehrace, 

Fourth  March,  1846. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Wills  : — I  assure  you  I  am  very 
truly  and  unaffectedly  sensible  of  your  earnest  friendli- 
ness— and  in  proof  of  my  feeling  its  worth,  I  shall 
unhesitatingly  trouble  you  sometimes,  in  the  fullest 
reliance  on  your  meaning  what  you  say. 

The  letter  from  Nelson  Square  is  a  very  manly  and 
touching  one.  But  I  am  more  helpless  in  such  a  case 
as  that,  than  in  any  other :  having  really  fewer  means 
of  helping  such  a  gentleman  to  employment,  than  I 
have  of  firing  off  the  Guns  in  the  Tower.  Such 
appeals  come  to  me  here  in  scores  upon  scores. 


184G]  AMERICAN  NOTICES.  15 

The  letter  from  Little  Wliite  Lion  Street  does  not 
impress  me  favourably.  It  is  not  written  in  a  simple 
and  truthful  manner — I  am  afraid.  And  Mr.  Thomas 
Cooper  is  not  a  good  reference.  Moreover,  I  think 
it  probable  that  the  writer  may  have  deserted  some 
pursuit  for  which  he  is  qualified,  for  vague  and  less 
laborious  strivings  which  he  has  no  pretensions  to 
make.  However,  I  will  certainly  act  on  your  impres- 
sion of  him,  whatever  it  may  be. 

And  if  you  could  explain  to  the  gentleman  in 
Nelson  Square,  that  I  am  not  evading  his  request, 
but  that  I  do  not  know  of  anything  to  which  I  can 
recommend  him,  it  would  be  a  great  relief  to  me. 

I  trust  the  new  Printer  is  a  Tartar ;  and  I  hope  to 
God  he  will  so  proclaim  and  assert  his  Tartar  breeding 

as  to  excommunicate from  the  "chapel"  over 

which  he  presides. 

Tell  Powell  (with  my  regards)  that  he  needn't 
"  deal  with "  the  American  notices  of  the  Cricket. 
I  never  read  one  word  of  their  abuse,  and  I  should 
think  it  base  to  read  their  praises.  It  is  something 
to  know  that  one  is  righted  so  soon;  and  knowing 
that,  I  can  afford  to  know  no  more. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

CD. 

Devonshire  Teerace, 

Twenty-second  April,  1846. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  meant  to  have  written  to  you 
long  ago,  to  tell  you  in  reference  to  the  Theatrical 
Dinner,  that  I  am  sure  you  wrote  the  account  in  a 
spirit  of  regard  for  me :  and  that  I  care  a  great  deal 
more  for  that,  than  for  any  number  of  columns  of  any 
number  of  newspapers,  and  rate  it  much  higher.     Do 


16  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1846 

not  think  I  say  so  the  less  heartily,  because  I  say  it 
after  some  delay. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Chakles  Dickens. 


After  this  there  is  another  gap  of  three  years  in 
the  correspondence  except  for  one  unimportant  letter 
of  June,  1847. 

1847. 

"Dombey,"  which  had  started  in  the  previous 
October,  ran  in  monthly  parts  all  through  this  year. 

1848. 

"  Dombey "  continued  to  run  till  April,  when  it 
was  published  in  book-form. 

"The  Haunted  Man"  was  published  at  Christmas. 

1849. 

"  David  Copperfield "  started  in  May  and  ran 
through  the  year  in  monthly  parts. 


Ill 

HOUSEHOLD    WORDS 


D.E. 


HOUSEHOLD    WORDS.  19 


1850. 

This  year  saw  the  establishment  of  Household  Words, 
a  project  which  had  for  some  time  occupied  Dickens's 
attention.  A  copy  of  the  agreement  made  between 
Charles  Dickens,  William  Bradbury,  Frederick  MuUett 
Evans,  John  Forster,  and  William  Henry  Wills  is 
among  Wills's  papers.  It  is  dated  March  28th, 
and  its  stipulations  are  briefly  to  the  following 
effect :  — 

(1)  The  aforesaid  parties  are  to  be  joint  proprietors  of  the 
periodical  in  the  following  proportions  both  as  to  sharing  the  profits 
and  as  to  paying  the  losses : — 

(a)  Dickens  one  half  share ; 

(6)  Bradbury  and  Evans  one  quarter  share ; 

(c)  Forster  one  eighth  share  ; 

{d)  Wills  one  eighth  share. 

(2)  Dickens  is  to  be  editor  at  a  salary  of  £500  a  year,  with 
an  additional  sum  to  be  paid  for  any  literary  articles  he  may 
contribute.     This  to  be  in  addition  to  his  share  of  profits. 

(3)  Bradbury  and  Evans  are  to  be  printers  and  publishers  and 
managers  of  the  Commercial  Department. 

(4)  In  consideration  of  his  eighth  share  Forster  is  from  time  to 
time  to  contribute  literary  articles  to  the  periodical  without  any 
additional  remuneration. 

(5)  In  consideration  of  his  eighth  share  Wills  is  to  act  as 
sub-editor  at  a  remuneration  of  £8  a  week  to  be  paid  weekly  in 
addition  to  his  share  of  profits.  He  can  withdraw  on  giving 
twelve  months'  notice,  and  fidl  power  is  given  to  Dickens  to 
dismiss  him  on  giving  him  six  months'  notice  or  an  equivalent 
amount  of  salary. 

The  first  number  of  Household  Words  is  dated 
Saturday,  March  30th,  1850.  It  should  be  noted 
that,  though  every  number  bore  date  a  Saturday,  it 

c  2 


20  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1850 

was  actually  issued  to  the  public  on  the  previous 
Wednesday,  like  Punch  during  a  considerable  part  of 
its  career.     The  price  was  2d. 

"Writing  to  Mrs.  Gaskell  on  January  31st  ('*  Letters," 
I.,  216),  Dickens  describes  the  characters  and  aim  of 
his  proposed  "  new  cheap  weekly  journal  of  general 
literature.  .  .  .  No  writer's  name,"  he  says,  *'  will  be 
used,  neither  my  own,  nor  any  other;  every  paper 
will  be  published  without  any  signature,  and  all 
will  seem  to  express  the  general  mind  and  pui'pose 
of  the  journal,  which  is  the  raising  up  of  those  that 
are  down,  and  the  general  improvement  of  our  social 
condition." 

During  a  large  part  of  this  year  Dickens  was  also 
working  at  "  David  Copperfield,"  which  he  finished 
in  October. 

Home,  who  is  mentioned  in  two  of  the  letters  this 
year,  was  Eichard  Henry  (afterwards  Hen  gist)  Home 
(1803 — 1884),  the  author  of  ''  Orion,"  an  epic  poem 
which  he  published  in  1843  at  the  price  of  a  farthing. 
His  life  was  an  adventurous  and  a  pugnacious  one.  He 
was  now  on  the  staff  of  Household  Words,  and  Wills 
considered  that  his  salary  was  too  high  for  the  work 
he  actually  performed.  The  letter  of  August  IGth 
from  Dickens  to  Wills  is  the  only  one  in  the  course 
of  the  whole  correspondence  that  shows  any  serious 
difference  between  the  two  men.  In  1852  Home 
went  with  William  Howitt  to  Australia,  and  on  his 
return  in  18G9  he  substituted  Hengist  for  Henry  as 
his  second  name. 

Morley,  referred  to  in  the  letter  of  December  12th, 
was  Henry  Morley  (1822 — 1894),  a  very  busy  and 
useful  member  of  the  Household  Words  staff.  Later 
on  he  edited  several  literary  series.  From  18G5 
to  1889  he  was  Professor  of  Literature  at  King's 
College,  London. 

Miss  Martineau,  whose  story  is  mentioned  in  the 
letter  of  March  29t]i,  was  Harriet  Martineau  (1802 — 


1850]  SUGGESTED  TITLES.  21 

1876),  novelist,  story-writer,  political-economist,  his- 
torian, writer  on  religion,  journalist  (she  was  a  regular 
contributor  to  the  Daily  News  from  1852  to  1866),  and 
condenser  of  Comte's  "  Positive  Philosophy."  James 
Payn,  who  knew  her  and  liked  her,  gives  a  very 
pleasant  account  of  her  (and  her  celebrated  ear-trumpet) 
in  his  ''  Literary  Eecollections."  In  1856  there  came 
a  rupture  between  her  and  Dickens,  the  causes  of 
which  are  explained  in  the  introduction  to  the  letters 
of  that  year. 

The  following  suggestions  for  the  title  of  the  new 
weekly  are  in  Dickens's  handwriting  on  two  slips  of 
paper : — 

The  Hearth. 

The  Forge. 

The  Crucible. 

The  Anvil  of  the  Time. 

Charles  Dickens's  Own. 

Seasonable  Leaves. 

Evergreen  Leaves. 

Home. 

Home-Music. 

Change. 

Time  and  Tide. 

Twopence. 

English  Bells. 

Weekly  Bells. 

The  Rocket. 

Good  Humour. 


Thus  at  the  glowing  Fouge  of  life  our  actions  must  be  wrought ; 

Thus  on  its  sounding  anvil  shaped 

Each  burning  deed  and  thought. — Longfellow. 

The  Forge, 

A  Weekly  Journal, 

Conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 


22  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

Devonshire  Terbace, 

Tiventy-second  January,  1850. 
My  Dear  Wills: — I  have  fully  discussed  the 
matter  with  Bradbury  and  Evans,  on  which  we  spoke 
to-day.  We  have  concluded  to  make  you  the  offer 
(which  I  hope  may  be  satisfactory)  of  Eight  Pounds  a 
week  absolutely,  and  one  eighth  share  in  all  the  profits 
of  the  work,  as  well  as  of  any  other  works  that  we 
may  publish  in  connexion  with  it. 

If  you  can  let  me  know  your  decision  on  this 
proposal  before  we  meet  on  Thursday  it  may  facilitate 
our  business.  Faithfully  yours  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Monday,  Eleventh  February,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  the  book.  I  observe 
(in  reference  to  something  you  said  on  Saturday  night) 
that  Chambers'  use  the  single  inverted  comma  for 
quotations,  and  I  think  its  adoption  by  us  decidedly 
objectionable  on  that  account.  There  is  nothing  I  am 
more  desirous  to  avoid,  than  imitation. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

HOUSEHOLD  WORDS  OFFICE. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Twenty-eighth  February ^  1850. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  the  addresses  I  enclose 
in  this,  the  best.     I  would  certainly  give  all  these  in 
the  article.     If  you  have  a  facsimile  of  any,  I  recom- 
mend Valparaiso.* 

*  An  allusion  to  an  article,  entitle<l  "  Valentine's  Day  at  the  Post  Office  " 
in  the  first  number  of   Household  Words.     It  was  written  by  Wills,  with 


1850]  PRINTING   ARRANGEMENTS.  23 

There  are  several  letters  and  proffered  articles, 
waiting  your  attention  here.  I  have  put  them  in  the 
right  hand  drawer  of  your  table. 

"We  must  have  a  great  reform  in  the  printing 
aiTangements,  without  whiqh  it  will  be  quite  impossible 
to  go  on.  I  have  not  yet  seen  one  line  in  prooj.  The 
consequence  will  be  that  I  shall  be  worried  and  fretted 
to  death  by  being  overwhelmed  with  proofs,  when  I 
am  turning  to  Copperfield — that  I  shall  not  have 
leisure  to  look  at  them  as  carefully  as  I  would — 
that  the  public  is  not  more  at  sea  than  I  am,  as  to 
what  we  are  doing — and  that  I  cannot,  with  my 
occupations,  do  work  in  this  way.  I  get  into  a 
state  of  irritation  quite  incompatible  with  it. 

Mrs.  Crowe's*  story  I  have  read.  It  is  horribly 
dismal ;  but  with  an  alteration  in  that  part  about  the 
sister's  madness  (which  must  not  on  any  account 
remain)  I  should  not  be  afraid  of  it.  I  could  alter  it 
myself  in  ten  minutes.  This,  too,  is  in  your  drawer  here. 

A  great  part  of  Mrs.  Gaskell's  storyf  has  come  in. 
It  is  very  good,  but  long.  It  will  require  to  be 
printed  either  in  three  or  in  four  numbers. 

I  have  written  two  articles — the  opening  one,  and 
another — and  sent  them  to  Mr.  Stacey.  I  suppose  I 
might  almost  as  profitably  have  put  them  on  the  top 
of  the  theatre  opposite. 

At  3  on  Saturday. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

touches  from  Dickens's  hand.  The  facsimile  address  given  was  "For 
George  Miller,  boy  on  board  H.M.S.  Aniphirtrite,  Voillop  a  Rayzor,  or 
Ellegware." 

*  Mrs.  Catherine  Crowe,  authoress  of  "  The  Night  Side  of  Nature."  The 
story  referred  to  was  "  Loaded  Dice,"  which  appeared  in  If<mse/iold  Words 
of  April  20th  following. 

t  "  Lizzie  Leigh "  appcarccl  in  the  first  three  numbers  of  Htncsehold 
Wards. 


24  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1850 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Sixth  March,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  should  wish  Hogarth  to  see 
that  article  before  it  is  used.  Will  you  see  him,  and 
set  him  to  work  on  something  else  ?  He  has  nothing 
in  hand  now.  And  will  you  name  to  me,  certain 
days  and  hours  when  you  can  always  be  found  in 
Wellington  Street.  So  that  I  may  know,  for  my  own 
guidance,  and  that  of  any  one  whom  I  may  want  to 
send  to  you. 

I  have  given  Greening  a  little  article  of  my  own, 
called  ''A  Bundle  of  Emigrants'  Letters,"*  introduc- 
ing some  five  or  six  originals,  which  are  extremely 
good. 

I  don't  feel  your  objection  to  ''  Lizzie  Leigh  "  so 
much,  for  this  reason.  She  had  seen  and  watched 
Susan,  before  she  deserted  the  child ;  and  she  has  yet 
to  give  her  own  account  of  that  transaction. 

To-morrow  I  am  going  to  Brighton  (148,  King's 
Eoad),  whence  I  shall  come  up,  of  course,  for  Satur- 
day. I  should  like  to  have  a  proof  of  the  Funeral 
article  sent  down  to  me.  I  understood  it  to  be  quite 
arranged  that  we  were  only  to  make  up  one  number  at 
this  next  meeting.  Will  you  tell  them  to  have  the 
fire  lighted  at  the  office,  at  10  on  Saturday  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

I  understand  my  father  went  on  like  the  Steam  Leg 
(oratorically  speaking)  at  your  dinner. 


*  This  article  appeared  in  the  first  number  of  Household  Words.  It  was 
written  in  support  of  a  scheme,  propounded  by  Mrs.  Chisholm,  for  the 
establishment  of  "  A  Family  Colonisation  Loan  Society."  Its  authorship  is 
attributed  in  the  Oifice  Book  to  Dickens  and  Mrs.  Chisholm,  the  latter 
having  probably  contributed  the  letters  contained  in  it. 


1850]  A  SCOTCH   SHORTNESS.  25 

Brighton,  148,  King's  Eoad, 

Tuesday  Night,  Twelfth  March,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — My  objection  to  entering  into 
the  Sunday  business*  is,  that  whatever  we  state,  is 
sure  to  be  contradicted ;  and  I  observed  Eowland  Hill 
to  be  a  very  cautious  and  reserved  man,  whom  I  should 
strongly  doubt  as  to  his  backing  qualities  in  such  a 
case.  If  the  passage  stand  at  all,  I  should  wish  it  to 
stand  as  I  have  altered  it.  But  1  should  be  glad  if 
you  would  show  it  to  Forster,  as  a  casting  opinion. 
We  will  abide  by  his  black  or  white  ball. 

I  have  made  a  correction  or  two  in  my  part  of  the 
Post  Office  article.  I  still  observe  the  top  heavy 
''  Household  Words  "  in  the  title.  The  title  of  ''  The 
Amusements  of  the  People  "  f  has  to  be  altered  as  I 
have  marked  it.  1  would  as  soon  have  my  hair  cut 
oif,  as  an  intolerable  Scotch  shortness  put  into  my 
titles  by  the  elision  of  little  words.  "The  Seasons" 
wants  a  little  punctuation.  Will  the  "  Incident  in 
the  Life  of  Madlle.  Clairon  "  go  into  those  two  pages  ? 
I  fear  not,  but  one  article  would  be  infinitely  better,  I 
am  quite  certain,  than  two  or  three  short  ones.  If  it 
will  go  in,  in  with  it. 

I  shall  be  back,  please  God,  by  dinner  time  to- 
morrow week.  I  will  be  ready  for  Sniithfield, 
either  on  the  following  Monday  morning  at  4,  or  on 
any  other  morning  you  may  arrange  for. 

Would  it  do,  to  make  up  No.  2  on  Wednesday  the 

*  Probably  the  question  of  the  Sunday  delivery  of  letters.  There  is  no 
allusion  to  it  in  the  article,  "  Valentine's  Day  at  the  Post  Office  "  (by  Wills 
and  Dickens),  which  appeared  in  the  first  number. 

t  By  Dickens,  in  the  first  number.  Another  article  with  the  same  title 
followed  in  No.  3.  Sixteen  years  afterwards  the  scheme  of  these  articles 
was  taken  up  again  (presumably  by  Dickens)  in  All  the  Year  Round,  of 
June  D)th,  June  30th,  July  7th,  and  July  21st,  18C6.  These  four  articles, 
however,  are  not  included  amongst  the  miscellanies  from  All  the  Year 
Hound  in  Vol.  36  of  "  The  National  Edition  "  of  Dickens's  Works. 


26  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

20th  instead  of  Saturday  ?  If  so,  it  would  be  an 
immense  convenience  to  me.  But  if  it  be  distinctly- 
necessary  to  make  it  up  on  Saturday,  say  so  by  return, 
and  I  am  to  be  relied  on.     Don't  fail  in  this. 

Supposing  you  had  a  place  for  the  Household  Narra- 
tive,* and  we  could  come  distinctly  to  the  understanding 
of  it,  I  should  incline  to  Forster's  opinion.  But  I 
apprehended,  last  Saturday,  that  neither  was  your 
plan  sufficiently  matured,  nor  were  the  materials  for 
its  execution  sufficiently  considered  (as  to  assistance 
and  so  forth)  to  admit  of  our  beginning  now,  other- 
wise than  short-sightedly — say  with  a  blindness  of 
one  eye. 

Thanks  for  the  prison  facts. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Twenty -ninth  March,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  sent  a  note  to  you,  just 
now,  in  Wellington  Street.  I  suppose  you'll  get  it 
before  you  get  this  ? 

I  really  can't  promise  to  be  comic.  Indeed  your 
note  puts  me  out  a  little,  for  I  had  just  sat  down  to 
begin  "  It  will  last  my  time."  I  will  shake  my 
head  a  little,  and  see  if  I  can  shake  a  more  comic 
substitute  out  of  it. 

The  first  part  of  Miss  Martincau's  f  story  is  in 
Greening's  hands.     It  is  heavy. 

•  This  was  an  allusion  to  a  proposal  to  publish  at  the  end  of  every  month 
"A  Houseliold  Narrative  of  Current  Events,"  at  the  price  of  2d.,  as  a 
Supplement  to  Household  Words.  The  first  narrative  was  accordingly- 
published  at  the  end  of  April. 

t  "  Sickness  and  Health,"  by  Miss  Martineau,  ran  through  four  numbers 
of  Household  Words,  from  May  25th  to  June  15th. 


1850]  HEAT   IN  PARIS.  27 

As  to  two  comic  articles,  or  two  any  sort  of  articles, 
out  of  me,  that's  the  intensest  extreme  of  nogoism. 

Faithfully, 

C.  D. 


[In  "  Letters,"  I.,  221,  this  letter,  owing  to  the 
obscurity  of  the  handwriting,  is  wrongly  dated  July 
27th.  The  "Model  Paper"  was  an  article,  by  Dickens, 
entitled,  "The  Ghost  of  Art,"  which  appeared  in  House- 
hold Words,  July  27th.  See  also  "Life,"  II.,  452,  note, 
where  Forster  gives  a  letter  from  Dickens  to  himself 
dated  Paris,  June  24th.  In  that  letter  Dickens  states 
his  intention  of  going  to  the  Fran^ais  on  Wednesday, 
for  "Rachel's  last  performance  before  she  goes  to 
London."] 

Hotel  Windsor,  Paris, 

Thursday,  June  Twenty-seventh,  1850 
{after  Post-time). 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  the  Model  paper, 
with  a  good  title.  Its  place  in  the  No.  we  can  discuss 
when  I  come  home.  I  have  had  much  ado  to  get 
to  work ;  the  heat  here  being  so  intense  that  I  can 
do  nothing  but  lie  on  the  bare  floor  all  day.  I  never 
felt  it  anything  like  so  hot,  in  Italy. 

I  am  afraid  this  will  floor  the  Whelks*  ideas,  as 
far  as  Paris  is  concerned.  There  is  nothing  doing  at 
the  Theatres,  and  the  atmosphere  is  so  horribly 
oppressive  there,  that  one  can  hardly  endure  it.  I 
came  out  of  the  Fran^ais  last  night,  half  dead.  I  am 
writing  at  this  moment  with  nothing  on  but  a  shirt 
and  pair  of  white  trousers,  and  have  been  sitting  four 

*  In  "  The  Amusements  of  the  People  "  (by  Dickens,  in  the  first  and  third 
numbers  of  Ilouxehold  Words)  Joe  Whelks  was  the  character  whom  the 
writer  followed  to  various  places  of  popular  entertainment. 


28  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOE.  [1850 

hours  at  this  paper,  but  am  as  faint  with  the  heat  as 
if  I  had  been  at  some  tremendous  gymnastics.  And 
yet  we  had  a  thunderstorm  last  night  I 

I  hope  we  are  doing  pretty  well  in  Wellington 
Street  ?  My  anxiety  makes  me  feel  as  if  I  had  been 
away  a  year.  I  hope  to  be  home  on  Tuesday  evening 
or  night  at  latest.  I  have  picked  up  a  very  curious 
book  of  French  statistics  that  will  suit  us — and  an 
odd  proposal  for  a  company  connected  with  the 
gambling  in  California — of  which  you  will  also  be 
able  to  make  something. 

I  can  correct  the  proof  of  this  paper  when  I  come 
home.  You  will  see  in  the  proof  that  I  speak  of  forty 
associates  belonging  to  the  Koyal  Academy.  I  am 
not  sure  that  their  constitution  includes  so  many — 
and  I  don't  like  to  ask  Maclise,  lest  we  should  stumble 
on  any  point  of  difference. 

I  saw  a  certain  "  Lord  Spleen "  mentioned  in  a 
playbill  yesterday,  and  will  look  after  that  distinguished 
English  nobleman  to-night,  if  possible,  llachel  played 
last  night  for  the  last  time  before  going  to  London,  and 
has  not  so  much  in  her  as  some  of  our  friends  suppose. 

Poole*  is  staggering  about  like  a  bad  automaton, 
and  the  English  people  are  perpetually  squeezing 
themselves  into  courtyards,  doorways,  blind  alleys, 
closed  edifices,  and  other  places  where  they  have  no 
sort  of  business.  The  French  people,  as  usual,  are 
making  as  much  noise  as  possible  about  everything 
that  is  of  no  importance,  but  seem  (as  far  as  one  can 
judge)  pretty  quiet  and  good-humoured.  They  made 
a  mighty  hallaballoo  at  the  Theatre  last  night,  when 


*  John  Poole,  the  dramatic  author,  tlien  residing  in  Paris.  Dickens,  in 
the  course  of  this  year,  obtained  for  him  a  Civil  List  pension  of  £100  a 
year,  Dickens  being  ai)i)oiuted  trustee  and  sending  it  to  him  every  (lUiirtcr, 


1850]  SMITHFIELD.  29 

Brutus  (the  play  was  ''  Lucretia  "  )  declaimed  about 
Liberty. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Devonshire  Terrace, 

Twelfth  Juhj,  1850. 
Friday. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  observe  a  report  in  The  Times 
this  morning  of  a  most  intolerably  asinine  speech  about 
Smithfield,*  made  in  the  Common  Council  by  one 
Taylor.  It  would  be  a  good  beginning  of  our  Play- 
ing at  Parliament.  If  you  will  look  to  the  other 
papers,  and  send  me  the  best  report,  or  a  collation  of 
the  greatest  absurdities  enunciated  by  this  wiseacre,  I 
will  try  to  make  something  of  it — in  any  case,  to 
enshrine  it  in  a  chip,  but  perhaps  to  do  something 
better. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Twelfth  July,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  remember,  I  suppose,  that 
the  statement  in  question  is  not  ours  ?  It  is  in  the 
records  of  that  Establishment  which  is  described,  and 
is — I  am  quite  certain — unmitigated  gammon.  I 
must  consider  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  alter  the 


•  a  stronp;  attack  on  tVie  organisation  and  methods  of  the  Smithfield 
Cattle  Market  and  on  the  treatment  of  cattle  there  was  published  in  Jlouiie- 
Iiold  Words  of  May  4th  this  year.  It  was  written  by  Wills,  witli  touches 
from  Dickens's  hand.  The  subject  was  again  referretl  to  in  a  "  Chip " 
(Chips  were  a  collection,  under  one  heading,  of  short  articles)  in  the  issue 
of  July  13th.     I  do  not  think  Dickens  wrote  anything  further  on  the  nuitter. 


30  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

making  up  by  putting  it  in  again  ;  but  in  future  don't 
touch  my  articles  without  first  consulting  me.* 

I  wonder  you  think  "  A  Night  with  the  Detective 
Police "  would  do  for  a  title !  t  After  all  those 
nights  with  Burns,  and  the  Industrious  Fleas,  and 
Heaven  knows  what  else  ! !  I  don't  think  there  could 
be  a  worse  one  within  the  range  of  the  human  under- 
standing. 

Will  have  another  night,  certainly,  I  suppose 
Forster  has  corrected  my  Detective  proof  ?  I  think 
the  Bank  NoteJ  very  good  indeed.  Do  the  Hippopota- 
mus.§     Do  Swinging  the  Ship.|| 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

Yes,  to  Mason.  I  have  learned  to  be  suspicious,  in 
spite  of  myself,  of  all  such  things. 


[Wills  to  Dickens.  In  answer  to  the  preceding 
letter.     From  Wills's  "  Letter  Book."] 

Atholl  Cottage, 
Twelfth  July,  1850. 

My  Dear  Dickens  : — I  hope  you  will  understand 
what  I  endeavour  always  to  intimate  : — that  when  I 
make  an  objection  to  any  article  I  do  it  suggestively. 
I  am  exceeding  jealous  of  anything  appearing  which 
might   have   the  remotest   tendency  to   damage   the 

*  This  referred,  as  the  subjoined  reply  from  Wills  shows,  to  an  article  in 
the  issue  of  June  22nd,  entitled  "  The  Devil's  Acre,"  written  by  Alexander 
Mackay,  I  presume  Dickens  wished  to  make  some  statement  in  a  subsequent 
number  casting  doubt  on  it.  It  described  some  reformatory  schools  in 
Westminster. 

t  The  title  chosen  was  "A  Detective  Police  Tarty,"  Household  Words, 
July  27th  and  August  10th.    The  articles  were  by  Dickens. 

J  "  Keview  of  a  Popular  Publication,"  by  Wills,  Ilouschold  Worda, 
July  27th. 

§  "  The  Hip[K)potamu8,"  by  R.  H.  Home,  HouHchold  Words,  August  3rd. 

II  '-Swinging  the  Ship,"  by  F.  K.  Hunt,  Household  Words,  July  27tli. 


1850]  EDITOR  AND  SUB-EDITOR.  31 

name  which  appears  at  the  top  of  each  page  ;  and 
which  is  responsible  for  every  word  printed  below  it, 
unless  the  contrary  be  specifically  stated.  The 
story  at  p.  300  [of  Vol.  I.  of  Household  Words'] 
although  said  to  be  derived  from  the  Institution,  is 
adapted  by  the  editor;  it  is  not  quoted  from  the 
Master^s  Eecord  (like  a  former  one),  but  is  set 
forth  editorially  ;  and  if  the  editor  doubted  its  truth 
the  statement  ought  to  have  been  accompanied  with 
that  doubt.  If  it  be  contradicted  afterwards  without 
excuse  or  explanation  confidence  would  be  commonly 
shaken  in  his  other  statements. 

I  ordered  the  passage  to  remain  in  type :  because  it  is 
more  easy  to  expunge  a  few  lines  from  another  article, 
when  a  passage  is  required  to  be  inserted,  than  to  add 
matter  when  one  has  to  be  taken  out.  I  did  not 
suppose  you  would  wish  me  to  consult  you  upon  so 
simple  a  matter  of  mechanical  convenience.  As  your 
injunction  is  strong  as  to  this  I  must  mention  that 
in  Eike's  Case  I  have  added  that  he  was  "  accused  "  of 
stealing  the  debentures  instead  of  that  he  actually 
stole  them*  and  struck  out  that  Field  said  "he  is  sure 
to  be  transported."  Eike  is  just  now  suh  judicc  and, 
besides  the  manifest  injustice  of  these  passages, 
he  would  have  a  good  case  against  us  in  his 
defence,  t 

Now  for  the  third  count.  The  title  for  the 
Detective  article  I  merely  submitted,  as  usual  as  a 
"  mild  suggestion,"  for  I  think  it  useless  to  hint  what 
may  strike  me  as  a  defect  without  indicating  a 
remedy.     I  said  "  A  Night  with  the  Detectives  "  was 

*  In  "A  Detective  Police  Party,"  Household  Words,  July  27th  (Vol.  I., 
p.  413). 

t  In  the  article  as  it  appeared  in  llouxchold  Word.i,  Willa's  emendations 
were  maintaincil. 


32  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

the  best  title  I  could  think  of.  I  still  think  it  is 
better  than  "  The  Detectives  "  merely,  though  cer- 
tainly not  the  title ;  but  I  am  sure  it  is  not  the  worst 
one  within  the  range  of  human  understanding.  For- 
give me  for  claiming  for  my  worst  suggestion  a  locus 
within  that  pale.  .  .  . 

Lots  of  articles  have  come  in.  We  have  now 
enough  for  a  number  and  a  half.  I  have  wrought  so 
hard  and  anxiously  lately  that  I  am  a  little  done  up. 
If  possible  I  shall  rush  off  to-morrow  night  all  the  way 
to  Walthamstow  till  Thursday.  On  Tuesday  I  shall 
be  in  Wellington  Street  and  will  have  letters,  etc., 
brought  to  me  every  night.  My  address  is  at  W.  S. 
Orr,  Esq.,  Church  Hill,  Walthamstow. 

W.  H.  Wills. 


Devonshire  Terrace, 

Ninth  August  J  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  if  you 
will  write  to  this  man,  and  tell  him  that  what  he  asks, 
I  never  do — firstly,  because  I  have  no  kind  of  con- 
nexion with  any  manager  or  theatre  ;  secondly,  because 
I  am  asked  to  read  so  many  manuscripts,  that  compliance 
is  impossible,  or  I  should  have  no  other  occupation  or 
relaxation  in  the  world. 

A  foreign  gentleman — with  a  beard — name  un- 
known, but  signing  himself  "A  Fellow  Man,"  and 
dating  from  nowhere — declined,  twice  yesterday,  to 
leave  this  house  for  any  less  consideration  than  the 
insignificant  one  of  "  twenty  pounds."  I  have  had  a 
policeman  waiting  for  him  all  day. 

Faithfully  always, 

0.  D. 


1850]  STARYERS.  33 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Tenth  August,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  written  to  Home.  The 
idea  is  a  good  one.     The  execution  the  main  thing. 

My  travels  are  chiefly  old,  and  I  have  none  of  those 
books.     But  I  have  told  him  you  will  get  them. 

I  will  consider  about  Port  Natal.  I  think  I  do 
know  somebody — but  he  might  lie,  or  favour  lies. 

The  New  Zealand  sketch  is  exactly  the  kind  of 
thing  that  weighs  upon  my  mind,  frightfully.  I  don't 
know  where  to  put  it.  I  haven't  the  courage  to 
destroy  it — and  it  reappears  awfully,  every  now  and 
then,  like  an  evidence  of  crime. 

I  send  you  a  communication  from  one  of  our 
innumerable  starvers. 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Wednesday,  Fourteenth  August,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  down  to  Maiden- 
head this  afternoon.  Will  you  come,  to  make  up,  at 
10  TO-MORROW  MORNING,  before  I  begin  a  good  day's 
work. 

You  will  find,  on  this  paper,  two  proofs,  in  which  I 
have  made  some  alterations.  "  Evil  is  Wrought,"*  I 
have  touched  at  the  end.  It  left  off"  with  a  disagree- 
able impression  as  to  the  feeling  between  the  sisters. 

Mr.  I  have  shorn  of  his  humour  in  the  emetical 

line,  and  also  of  his  account  of  a  calm — which  is  less 
correct  than  I  hope  his  other  facts  are.     I  have  seen 

*  "  Evil  is  WrouKht  by  Want  of  Thought,"  by  Coventry  Patmoro,  appeared 
in  Household  Wordu,  September  14th. 

d.e.  d 


34  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS,  EDITOR.  [I8f.0 

a  calm  on  the  Atlantic,  three  or  four  days  long,  when 
the  ship  had  no  more  motion  than  this  table. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 


Devonshire  Tekrace, 

Sixteenth  August^  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  will  not  enter  on  that  ques- 
tion of  comparison  which  you  raise  in  your  note, 
because  I  do  not  think  my  doing  so  would  at  all 
facilitate  or  soften  our  business. 

I  have  not  the  least  intention,  at  present,  of  making 
any  change  in  Home's  engagement.  I  think  (as  you 
know)  highly  of  his  abilities,  and  I  have  always  seen 
him  most  willing  and  anxious  to  work.  If,  on  its 
being  distinctly  shewn  to  him  what  he  is  required  to 
do,  it  should  appear,  either  that  he  dislikes  doing  it, 
or  cannot  do  it,  the  case  would  be  different.  But  I  do 
not  feel  that  it  would  become  me  to  assume  any  such 
thing  from  your  premises. 

If  you  will  write  me  such  a  letter  as  I  can  put  before 
him,  distinctly  stating  what  assistance  you  require 
from  him,  which  you  have  not,  I  will  write  to  him 
immediately,  and  enclose  that  communication.  And  I 
have  no  doubt  the  matter  will  be  easily  arranged. 

But  you  must  excuse  my  saying  that  I  think  you 
arc  hardly  so  disposed  to  accommodate  matters  with 
Home  (and  never  have  been)  as  it  would  be  pleasant 
and  advantageous  for  all  of  us  that  you  should  be. 

I  send  you  an  "  Illustration  of  Cheapness,"  *  and 
some  papers  you  left  here  yesterday. 

*  A  series  of  articles  apiKwretl  umler  this  title.     They  were  by  Charles 
Kni'rht. 


1850]  A   SOFT   ANSWER.  35 

Mrs.  Dickens  being  happily  confined,*  I  go  to 
Broadstairs  this  afternoon.  My  address  there,  is  Fort 
House. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 


[Wills  to  Dickons.  In  answer  to  the  preceding 
letter.     From  Wills's  "  Letter  Book."] 

Household  Words  Office, 

Seventeenth  August^  1850. 

My  Dear,  Dickens  : — Your  letter  gives  me  both 
surprise  and  pain.  There  is  nothing  to  "  soften." 
What  I  have  proved  is  merely  a  matter  of  business 
calculation,  and  should  be  discussed  as  such. 

It  was  my  duty  to  show  you  that  Home's  articles 
had  cost  us  something  like  £8  apiece,  even  when  his 
other  services  are  taken  into  account.  If  you  believe 
the  work  p.e..  Household  Words']  can  afford  such 
terms  I  have  nothing  more  to  say  on  that  head,  but  I 
cannot  afford  to  make  up,  as  I  have  been  obliged  to 
do,  his  deficiency  of  service  by  extra  services  of  my 
own.  The  limit  for  the  cost  of  contributions  is  £16 
per  average  week.  Unless  I  write  as  much  as  I  have 
done  and  more  than  I  can  promise  myself  to  write  for 
the  future,  it  is  impossible  to  adhere  to  that  limit 
until  Home's  engagement  is  modified. 

I  feel  that  you  mistake  me,  but  have  no  fear  that 
by  and  bye  you  will  [not]  unreservedly  understand 
that  in  all  I  do  I  aim  at  one  only  object : — the 
welfare  and  success  of  the  property  in  which  we  have 
embarked.      Anything   I   perceive    which    tends   to 

*  Dickens's  third  dauj,'hter,  Dora  Annie.  Slie  die<l  suddenly  on  April  14th, 
1851,  and  the  news  was  broufj;ht  to  Dickens  while  he  was  presiding  at  the 
dinner  of  the  General  Theatrical  Fund  at  the  "  Loudon  "  'I'.uoiii 

D    2 


36  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

impede  that  success  no  personal  considerations  prevent 
me  from  pointing  out.  Personally  I  have  a  liking  for 
norne  which  (personally)  is  growing  upon  me,  but 
officially  I  cannot  be  satisfied  with  any  man  who  does 
not,  I  conceive,  come  forward  with  his  quid  pro  quo. 
Indeed  I  quite  agree  witli  you  that  if  it  were  put  to 
him  from  the  computations  I  have  given  you  that  he 
is  receiving  some  £5  *  5  for  what  other  contributors 
arc  not  paid  half  that  sum  for  he  would  be  as  ready 
as  anyone  to  acknowledge  that  it  is  a  great  injustice 
not  only  to  me  (who  have  to  bear  the  brunt  of  all 
deficiencies)  but  to  every  contributor  to  the  work,  and 
would  be  as  ready  to  discuss  any  more  equitable 
arrangement  as  I  am. 

It  is  not  for  me,  however,  to  urge  such  a  point  to 
him,  and  for  that  reason  I  placed  data  in  your  hands 
to  make  some  such  communication.  I  have  nothing 
special  to  suggest.  All  I  wish  is  that  Horne  should 
mitigate  my  occasional  agonies  for  articles  by  writing 
more  articles — by,  in  short  giving  five  guineas'  worth 
of  services  per  week  in  exchange  for  £5:5:0.  His 
three  months'  engagement  terminates  tomorrow.* 

Yours,  &c.,  &c., 

W.  n.  Wills. 

Broadstairs, 

Nineteenth  Auffiist,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Yes — very  gently — as  to  Miss 
Martincau.  And  say  I  want  to  cut  the  end  of 
Woodruffe.t     (I  have  no  proof.) 

*  A  letter  in  Wills's  "Letter  Book"  of  March  filh,  18")!,  shows  that 
Wills  returned  to  the  charj^e  and  again  pressed  this  matter  on  Dickens's 
attention.  What  happened  I  do  not  know.  Horne  went  to  Australia  in 
1852. 

t  Miss  Martincau's  story,  "  The  Home  of  WoodruiTe,"  appeared  in  House- 
hold Wo7-dt,  from  August  24th  to  September  7th. 


1850]  A  ROAST   LOIN  OF  MUTTON.  37 

What  shall  we  do  about  the  making  u])?  What 
Mrs.  Micawber  calls  "  the  unconscious  stranger"  has 
so  put  me  out,  that  I  can't  leave  here  before  Friday, 
clearly. 

In  great  haste, 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  1). 

Broadstaiks, 

Wednesday  Night,  Twenty-first  August,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  cut  Woodruff e  as 
scientifically  as  I  can,  and  I  don't  think  Miss  Martineau 
would  exactly  know  where. 

The  "  Illustrations  of  Cheapness  "  having  become 
known  to  our  readers,  I  think  I  would  put  the  Steel 
Pen  first.  It  has  an  Educational  reference — is  very 
good — and  I  think  upon  the  whole  might  exchange 
places  with  the  Forgery  chapters  to  advantage,  as  we 
have  already  had  the  Bank  first,  in  a  former  No. 

Of  course  they  have  not  sent  me  the  Forgery 
Proofs.* 

The  contents  otherwise,  are  very  fair,  I  think.  Of 
course  I  proceed  on  the  idea  that  you  have  not  found 
any  new  first  article. 

If  I  have  a  favorable  day's  work  to-morrow  (it  may 
be  a  wayward  one,  as  I  am  particularl}^  ready  to  do  it, 
and  have  considered  it  a  long  time)  I  shall  be  at  the 
office  all  day  on  Friday.  Also,  I  shall  be  happy  to 
have  Downing  Bruce  to  dinner  on  Friday  at  6.  That 
subject  should  be  nailed.  Have  a  roast  loin  of  mutton 
for  one  thing.  We  had  nothing  to  cut  and  come 
again  at,  last  time. 

*  Two  chapters  on  "  Uank   Note  Forgeries,"  by  Wills,  with  touches  by 
Dickeus,  Ilouselwld  Words,  September  7th  and  21st. 


88  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1850 

I  received  both  the  letters  you  mention.  Ask 
Forster  to  dine  on  Friday. 

What  do  you  and  Mrs.  Wills  say  to  coming  down 
about  to-morrow  week— as  soon  as  you  have  got  that 
week's  number  off  your  hands  ? 

I  enclose  a  note,  which  I  don't  understand.  What 
on  earth  does  the  man  mean,  by  returning  an  incivility  ? 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Ttventy-sevcnth  August^  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  you  some  papers  I 
have  received  in  connexion  with  the  H.  W.  Among 
them,  a  letter  from  Ilorne,  in  answer  to  one  from  me, 
pointing  out  to  him  the  heads  of  your  statement.  You 
will  see  that  he  is  willing  and  anxious  to  do  anything, 
and  to  render  you  assistance  in  any  way  in  which  you 
will  allow  yourself  to  be  assisted. 

I  have  been  in  a  kind  of  prostrated  condition,  as  to 
any  power  of  thinking  about  anything,  since  I  finished 
my  last  Copperfield.  Consequently,  what  I  am  to  do 
for  H.  W.  is  still  a  sheet  of  blank  paper.  I  suppose 
(like  Mr.  Micawber)  that  Something  will  turn  up. 

When  I  know,  for  certain,  on  what  day  I  shall  be 
in  town,  I  will  write  to  you  again — probably  by  to- 
morrow's Post.  You  remain  in  the  same  mind  about 
Saturday  ? 

Always  faithfully  yours, 

C.  1). 

Broadstairs, 

Thursday,  Tivcnty -ninth  August,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  the  best  resume  my 
used-up-ed-ness  will  yield,  of  the   three  best  Police 


1850]        "THE   DOOM   OF  ENGLISH  WILLS."  39 

stories.*  Will  you  please  look  carefully  at  the  Proof, 
and  be  particular  with  the  turned  comma  in  the 
Dialogue. 

Stanfield  being  here,  I  shall  come  to  town  on 
Saturday  Morning,  and  be  at  the  H.  W.  at  11  o'clock, 
to  dispatch  all  needful  business.  I  purpose  returning 
by  the  Boat  on  Sunday  Morning.  Is  there  anything 
in  the  Presbyterian  way,  to  prevent  you  and  Mrs.  Wills 
coming  back  with  me  ?  If  so,  and  you  would  prefer 
preceding  me  by  a  train  on  Saturday  afternoon,  write 
to  that  effect  (to  my  little  housekeeper  Miss  Hogarth) 
by  return,  and  she  will  expect  you. 

In  haste, 

Always  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Broadstairs, 

Sunday^  Eighth  September,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  the  beginning  of 
our  joint  articlef  on  Gumming  Bruce's  theme.  I  have 
endeavoured  to  make  it  picturesque,  and  to  leave  the 
ground  open  for  you.  I  return  your  notes.  You  are 
wrong  about  the  £45  in  a  day.  I  have  stated  it  as  I 
understood  the  fact  to  have  been. 

I  don't  like  the  name  I  have  given  the  subject. 
What  do  you  think  of  "  The  Fate  of  Wills,  in  Eng- 
land "  instead  ?  Or  something  of  that  sort?  If  you 
will  send  the  proof  to  me  when  you  have  done  I  will 
try  to  put  a  few  lines  at  the  end,  so  as  to  wind  up 
with  an  effect.  I  think  we  shall  make  a  great  hit 
with  the  subject. 

*  "  Three  '  Detective '  Anecdotes,"  by  Dickens,  HouseJiold  Wordu, 
September  14th. 

t  "  The  Doom  of  Enplisli  Wills,"  by  U.  D.  and  W.  11.  W,,  Ilmxehold 
Words,  September  28th,  October  rjth,  November  Snd,  IGth  (Chip),  and  23rd. 


40  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1850 

The  "  Diplomacy,"  splendid.  I  should  like  to  begin 
that  with  a  sketch  of  an  aristocratic  attacht^  and  so 
forth.  I  know  the  reality  very  well,  having  seen  a 
good  deal  of  it  abroad. 

Home  spoke  to  me — wrote  to  me,  I  mean — about 
the  ''Steam  Plough";*  and  I  meant  to  have  called 
your  attention  to  it,  but  forgot  it.  You  have  done 
quite  right. 

The  parcel  is  a  clean  set  of  curtains  for  the  office 
windows,  when  wanted,  and  the  glass-cloths  we 
bought. 

Will  you  tell  Vale  to  receive  and  pay  for  two 
dozen  champagne  and  two  dozen  claret  ?  They 
will  come  in  cases,  and  had  better  be  put  in  the  top 
room. 

The  14th  of  October,  impossible.  I  am  afraid  I 
shall  not  be  available  for  the  26  th  either,  having 
made  a  pledge  to  Bulwer.  But  the  event  may  not 
come  off.     I  can't  say,  yet. 

Looking  back  to  your  letter,  I  observe  that  you 
speak  of  my  letting  you  have  "the  first  article." 
You  understood,  I  suppose,  that  we  agreed  I  should 
send  you  the  opening  of  the  first  article  for  you  to  go 
on  with  ? 

I  am  very  glad  to  hear  of  the  Edinburgh  man 
again. 

Faithfully  always, 

CD. 

Even  Paxton  must  be  second-fiddle  to  the  Eccle- 
siastical subject,  in  case  you  do  perceive  there,  a 
divided  duty.  Remember  me  to  him,  with  congratu- 
lations. 

*  An  article  by  Home  in  the  issue  of  September  2l8t. 


1850]  A   COPPERFIELD   PAROXYSM.  41 

Broadstairs, 

Friday,  September  Seventeenth^  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear 
about  your  brain — but  if  you  suppose  that  our  Number 
went  down,  because  the  Illustration  was  first,  and 
wouldn't  have  gone  down  if  the  Forgery  had  been  first, 
I  think  the  disease  must  be,  the  gigantic  strength  of 
your  imagination. 

You'll  find  Broadstairs  do  you  more  good,  than 
anything  could. 

I  am  in  that  tremendous  paroxysm  of  Copperfield — 
having  my  most  powerful  effect  in  all  the  Story  on  the 
Anvil — that  you  might  as  well  ask  me  to  manufacture 
a  Cannon  seventy-four  pounder,  as  to  finish  the  Turtle, 
or  do  the  Junk,  or  do  anything  now.  But  I  will  be 
at  the  office,  please  God,  at  eleven  on  Friday  Morning ; 
and  if  we  have,  as  I  fear  we  must  have,  in  default  of 
anything  else,  the  second  "Will  article  in  the  No. 
I  will  write  the  introduction  then  and  there.  I  have 
arranged  to  go  over  the  asylum  for  Idiots,  that  day, 
which  ought  to  afford  a  fine  description. 

I  will  look  over  "  Hints  on  Emergencies,"*  with 
the  view  you  suggest,  if  it  comes. 

You  may  tell  Mr.  Field  that  the  only  word  in  that 
passage  which  he  did  not  use,  is  "  slow  "  as  applied  to 
"  Justices."  I  put  that  in,  to  express  what  his  manner 
expressed,  t  But  that  if  he  means  to  say  he  didn't 
mention  about  "  while  they  were  looking  over  the 

•  By  Wills  and  Dr.  Stone,  October  5th. 

t  The  allusion  is  to  Inspector  Field,  of  the  Detective  Tolice,  who  had 
supplied  Dickens  with  material  for  his  "Three  'Detective'  Anecdotes"  in 
Household  Words,  September  1 4th.  The  passage  to  wliich  the  Inspector  appears 
to  have  objected  is  at  the  end  of  the  second  "  Anecdote  "  : — "  Well,  if  you'll 
believe  me,  while  them  slow  Justices  were  looking  over  the  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment to  see  what  they  could  do  to  him,  I'm  blowed  if  he  didn't  cut  out  of 
the  dock  before  their  faces." 


42  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1850 

Acts  of  Parliament,"  he  means  to  say  the  thing  which 
is  not.  Lemon's  recollection,  and  Leech's,  be  my 
judge  !  There  would  be  no  objection  to  a  facetious 
chip  about  the  "  slow,"  but  what  Mr.  Field  did  say 
shall  not  be  unsaid — can't  be. 

I  enclose  you,  from  a  correspondent,  a  Post  Office 
order  for  a  Sovereign  in  favor  of  that  Westminster 
Eeclamatory    Institution  whereof  we    have   treated. 

Also  a  communication  from  Mr. ,  another  name 

for  Blight,  and  Locust. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  I). 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Thursday  J  Tivelfth  December,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills: — This  proof  of  Morley's,  when 
corrected,  will  require  to  be  very  carefully  looked  to. 
I  had  better  go  over  it  myself.  I  can't  make  out 
whether  he  means  Mr.  Buster  to  be  actually  a  prize- 
fighter, or  a  person  in  the  position  of  a  gentleman  with 
prize-fighting  tastes.  I  have  adopted  the  latter  hypo- 
thesis, as  involving  less  inconsistency  and  incongruity.* 

Mrs.  GaskelPs  story,t  I  enclose,  with  two  or  three 
slight  corrections.  The  name  I  have  given  it,  expresses 
it  better  than  any  other  I  can  think  of.  Withal,  it  is 
not  a  common  name.  The  story  is  very  clever — I 
think  the  best  thing  of  hers  I  have  seen,  not  excepting 
Mary  Barton — and  if  it  had  ended  happily  (which  is 
the  whole  meaning  of  it)  would  have  been  a  great 
success.  As  it  is,  it  had  better  go  into  the  next 
No.,    but  will    not   do    much,    and  will  link   itself 


*  "Mr.  Bendigo  Buster  ou  our  Niitioual   Defences  iig.iiust  Education," 
by  Morley  and  Dickens,  ILouiwhold  Worch,  December  28th. 

t  "  The  Hearty  John  Middletou,"  Ilauschold  Words,  December  38th. 


1850]  AUGUSTUS  EGG.  48 

painfully,  with  the  girl  who  fell  down  at  the  Well, 
and  the  child  who  tumbled  down  stairs.  I  wish  to 
Heaven  her  people  would  keep  a  little  firmer  on  their 
legs ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Saturday,  Fourteenth  December,  1850. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  heard  something  last  night, 
which  makes  me  averse  to  reviving  the  Good  Ilippo- 
potamus."*  I  must  therefore  trouble  you  to  take  out 
that  article  after  all,  and  put  in  another  chip. 

I  could  not  think  of  making  so  important  an  altera- 
tion in  Mrs.  Gaskell's  story  without  her  consent.  It 
must  therefore  stand  as  it  is. 

1  forgot  to  tell  you  yesterday  that  Eggf  proposes  to 
meet  us  at  the  Blackwall  Eailway  at  3  on  Mondaij  to 
go  down  (by  appointment  with  the  Proprietors)  to 
those  Plate  Glass  Works.  He  says  the  visit  will 
occupy  some  three  hours.  Therefore  our  friend 
II[ousehold]  W[ords^  must  improvise  a  city  dinner 
afterwards.  I  shall  be  at  the  office  on  Monday, 
between  12  and  1. 

I  have  taken  out  the  cripple  in  the  Railway  paj^er, 
because  he  has  hobbled  bodily  out  of  Head's  book. 

There  are  a  few  alterations  elsewhere. 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 

*  By  Dickens,  Ilovsehold  Words,  October  12th. 

t  Augustus  Egg,  A.R.A.  (afterwards  K.A.),  the  painter  of  liistorical 
pictures.  He  and  Wilkic  Collins  went  with  Uickens  on  a  tour  through 
Switzerland  and  Italy  in  1853. 


44  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1851 


1851. 

During  this  year  Dickens's  time  and  his  energies 
were  largely  absorbed  by  the  Guild  of  Literature  and 
Art,  in  the  foundation  of  which  lie  took  a  leading 
share.  Lytton,  then  Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton, 
wrote  a  comedy  in  five  acts,  "Not  So  Bad  As  We 
Seem;  or,  Many  Sides  to  a  Character,"  for  the  per- 
formances to  be  given  in  aid  of  the  institution.  The 
first  performance  took  place  on  May  16th,  by  permis- 
sion of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  at  Devonshire  House. 
Wills,  to  whom  Dickens  offered  a  small  part,  did  not 
act,  but  he  became  the  Secretary  of  the  scheme, 
and  later  in  the  year,  when  Dickens  took  his 
company  into  the  provinces,  he  sometimes  went 
with  them.  The  following  advertisement  of  the 
project  was  published  in  the  daily  papers  of  the 
time : — 

GUILD  of  LITERATURE  and  ART:  to  encourage  life 
assurance  and  other  provident  habits  among  authors  and 
artists ;  to  render  such  assistance  to  both  as  shall  never  com- 
promise their  independence ;  and  to  found  a  new  Institution 
where  honourable  rest  from  arduous  labour  shall  still  be  associated 
with  the  discharge  of  congenial  duties.  To  bring  this  project  into 
general  notice,  and  to  form  the  commencement  of  the  necessary 
funds,  Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton,  one  of  its  originators,  has 
written  and  presented  to  his  fellow -labourers  in  the  cause,  a  New 
Comedy  in  Five  Acts.  It  will  be  produced  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Charles  Dickens,  in  a  theatre  constructed  for  the 
purpose ;  and  will  be  performed  by  Mr.  Robert  Bell,  Mr.  Wilkie 
Collins,  Mr.  Dudley  Costelln,  Mr.  Peter  Cunningham,  Mr.  Charles 
Dickens,  Mr.  Augustus  Egg,  A.R.A.,  Mr.  John  Forster,  Mr.  R.  H. 
Home,  Mr.  Douglas  Jerrold,  Mr.  Charles  Kniglit,  Mr.  Mark  Lemon, 
Mr.  J.  Westland  Marston,  Mr.  Frank  Stouo,  Mr.  John  Tenniel, 
Mr.  F.  W.  Topham,  and  others.  Portions  of  the  scenery  have 
been  presented  by  Mr.  Absolon,  Mr.  Thomas  Grieve,  Mr.  Lewis 


1851]  E.   C.   OtRENYILLE   MURRAY.  45 

Haglie,  and  Mr.  Telbin.  The  first  representation  of  the  Comedy, 
wliich  is  entitled  "  Not  So  Bad  As  We  Seem  ;  or,  Many  Sides  to 
a  Character,"  will  take  place  at  Devonshire  House,  on  Friday, 
Ifith  May,  before  iler  Majesty  the  Queen,  and  His  Royal  Highness 
the  Prince  Albert.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  wishing  tickets  for  the 
performance  at  Devonshire  House,  price  £5  each — this  sum  being 
regarded  as  a  contribution  in  support  of  the  design — wiU,  on 
a  written  application  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  at 
Devonshire  House,  receive  a  voucher  for  the  same,  exchangeable 
at  Mr.  Mitchell's  library,  33,  Old  Bond-street.  Prospectuses  of 
the  scheme  can  be  had  after  Thursday,  on  application,  at  the 
office  of  the  Guild,  Wellington-chambers,  10,  Lancaster-place, 
Strand  ;  of  Mr.  Mitchel,  33,  Old  Bond-street ;  Messrs.  Ebers, 
27,  Old  Bond-street ;  Mr.  Hookham,  15,  Old  Bond-street ;  and 
Mr.  Sams,  1,  St.  James's-street. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  WLLLS,  Hon.  Sec. 

Though  launched  under  these  brilliant  auspices  the 
institution  never  attained  any  great  success. 

In  March  Mrs.  Dickens  was  at  Malvern,  and  Dickens 
too  was  sometimes  there,  though  his  headquarters 
remained,  in  London. 

Dickens's  father,  John  Dickens,  died  on  March  31st, 
and  his  daughter,  Dora  Annie,  on  April  14th.  From 
May  to  November  Dickens  was  at  Fort  House, 
Broadstairs. 

In  the  letter  of  March  29th  there  is  an  allusion  to 
a  paper  contributed  by  E.  C.  Grenville  Murray.  In 
the  following  year  this  writer  began  his  brilliant  series 
of  articles  in  Household  Words,  entitled  "  The  Eoving 
Englishman,"  and  went  on  with  them  until  185G. 
Some  of  them  were  published  as  a  book  in  1854.  He 
was  a  natural  son  of  the  second  Duke  of  Buckingham 
and  Chandos.  Entering  the  Diplomatic  Service  under 
the  protection  of  Lord  Palmerston,  he  was  appointed 
an  attache  at  Vienna  in  1851;  was  transferred  to 
Constantinople  (after  a  short  interval  at  Hanover)  in 
1852;  quarrelled  with  the  ambassador.  Sir  Stratford 
Canning,  whom  ho  afterwards  ridiculed  as  Sir  Hector 
Stubble;  and  in  1855  was  sent  to  Odessa  as  British 


46  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

Consul-General.  Thence,  after  some  disagreeable 
controversies,  he  returned  to  England  in  1868.  In 
1869  he  started  the  Queens  Messenger,  the  first 
"Society"  journal  published  in  this  country.  On 
June  22nd,  1869,  he  was  horsewhipped  in  St.  James's 
Street  by  Lord  Carrington  on  account  of  some  reflec- 
tions on  Lord  Carrington' s  father.  He  prosecuted 
Lord  Carrington,  who  was  convicted,  but  only  ordered 
to  come  up  for  judgment  when  called  up.  Thereupon 
Orenville  Murray  was  himself  prosecuted  for  perjury 
in  having  on  oath  denied  the  authorship  of  the  article 
in  dispute.  He  was  remanded  on  bail,  but  did  not 
appear  again,  having  fled  to  Paris.  He  continued  to 
write,  and  helped  Edmund  Yates  to  found  the  World 
in  1874.     He  died  at  Passy  in  1881. 

Charles  Knight,  mentioned  in  the  letter  of 
April  20t]i,  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Dickens,  and 
was  at  this  time  contributing  a  series  of  papers  under 
the  title  of  "  Shadows "  to  Household  Words.  As 
publisher,  author  and  editor  he  was  equally  well 
known.  His  most  popular  compilations  were  "Half 
Hours  with  the  Best  Authors,"  "  Half  Hours  of 
English  History,"  and  "  Half  Hours  with  the  Best 
Letter  -  Writers."  He  died  in  1873,  at  the  age 
of  82. 

In  the  letter  of  August  13th  occurs  the  first  mention 
of  George  Augustus  Sala,  then  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
three.  He  was  never  one  of  Dickens's  close  friends, 
but  until  1856  he  was  a  fairly  regular  contributor  to 
Household  Words,  and  Dickens  had  a  considerable 
admiration  for  much  of  his  work.  In  April,  1856, 
Dickens  sent  him  to  Eussia  to  write  descriptive  articles 
for  Household  Words.  He  returned  in  September,  when 
a  disagreement  with  Dickens  as  to  the  republication  of 
his  articles  in  volume  form  led  to  Sala's  withdrawal  from 
Household  Words.  He  renewed  his  connection  with 
the  paper  two  years  later  and  contributed  many  articles 
to  its  successor,  All  the  Year  Hound.     His  association 


1851]  G.   A.   SALA.  47 

with  the  Daily  Telegraph  began  in  1857,  and  for  many 
years  his  well-known  style — Matthew  Arnold  whetted 
his  satire  on  it  in  "  Friendship's  Garland  " — lent  colour 
and  animation  to  the  columns  of  that  paper.  He 
founded  and  edited  two  monthly  magazines,  The  Train 
(January,  1856)  and  Temple  Bar  (December,  1860), 
Edmund  Yates  being  associated  with  him  on  both 
publications.     He  died  in  1895. 


Devonshiee  Terrace, 

Monday,  Tenth  February,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  is  a  small  part  in 
Bulwer's  comedy — but  very  good,  what  there  is — not 
much — my  servant,  who  opens  the  play — which  I 
should  be  very  glad  if  you  would  like  to  do. 

Pray  understand  that  there  is  no  end  of  men  who 
would  do  it,  and  that  if  you  have  the  least  objection 
to  the  trouble,  I  don't  make  this  the  expression  of  a 
wish  even.  Otherwise,  I  should  like  you  to  be  in  the 
scheme,  which  is  a  very  great  and  important  one,  and 
which  cannot  have  too  many  men  who  are  steadily — 
not  flightily,  like  some  of  our  friends — in  earnest,  and 
who  are  not  to  be  lightly  discouraged. 

If  you  do  the  part,  I  should  like  to  have  a  talk  with 
you  about  the  secretarial  duties.  They  must  be  per- 
formed by  some  one,  I  clearly  see,  and  will  require 
good  business  direction.  I  should  like  to  put  some 
young  fellow  to  whom  such  work,  and  its  remunera- 
tion would  be  an  object,  under  your  eye,  if  wc  could 
find  one  entire  and  perfect  chrysolite  anywhere. 

Let  me  know  whether  I  am  to  rate  you  on  the 
ship's   books,    or    not.     If    yes,    consider    yourself 


48  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

"  called  "  to  the  Reading  (by  Macready)  at  Forster's 
rooms  on  Wednesday,  the  19th  at  3. 

And  in  the  meantine  you  shall  have  a  proof  of  the 
plan. 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 


[Wills  to  Dickens.  In  answer  to  the  preceding 
letter.     From  Wills's  "  Letter  Book."] 

HousETiOLT)  Words  Office, 

Twelfth  Fehruanj,  1851. 

My  Dear  Dickens  : — I  have  considered  your  letter 
well  over,  and  think  it  better  that  I  should  not  take  a 
part  in  the  play.  I  will  not  bore  you  with  all  my 
reasons  against  it.  One  will  suffice,  for  that  is  a 
strong  one  : — there  will  be,  as  I  understand,  not  a  few 
provincial  performances ;  and  under  present  arrange- 
ments I  think  it  would  be  extremely  inexpedient 
for  us  both  to  be  absent  from  Household  Words 
together  and  so  often  as  the  performances  will  require. 

It  is  no  affectation  to  say  that  this  is  a  great  sacri- 
fice of  pleasure  to  me,  for  I  should  enjoy  the  fun  of 
acting  and  the  greater  glorification  of  being  one  of  the 
corps  dramatique ;  and,  as  you  know,  the  smaller  the 
part  the  better  I  should  like  it. 

I  shall,  however,  feel  very  great  disappointment 
indeed  if  any  disinclination  to  act  in  the  play  (brought 
about  chiefly  by  business  considerations)  deprive  me 
of  the  privilege  of  giving  any  help  in  my  power  to  the 
general  scheme.  It  is  one  I  have  long  wished  to  see 
brought  forward,  and  I  have  felt  a  very  great  interest 


1851]  THEATRICAL  PREPARATIONS.  49 

in  it  from  the  moment  you  mentioned  it.  If  I  can  be 
of  any  service  in  the  way  you  suggest  in  your  letter, 
or  in  any  of  the  business  generalities  or  details  of  the 
project  I  will  give  my  services  zealously. 

I  do  hope,  therefore,  that  ridding  you  of  a  bad  actor 
will  not  bar  me  out  from  all  the  co-operation  I  can 
give  to  the  other  parts  of  the  scheme. 

W.  H.  W. 

[The  day  of  the  montli  is  not  given,  but  the  refer- 
ence to  the  cabmen  disposes  me  to  attribute  the 
following  letter  to  March  27th  (see  next  letter,  and 
that  of  March  29th)]. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Thursday  Morning. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  it  not  unlikely  that 
Home  may  unintentionally  commit  us  to  some  mistake 
on  the  Series  question,  without  careful  revision. 

Will  you  show  Ilenry  Austin*  the  proof,  and  read 
it  with  him  ?     We  shall  then  be  quite  safe. 

The  cabmen  I  shall  expect  to-morrow. 

Mr.  Sloman,  and  also  Pitt  the  scene  painter,  are 
instructed  that  you  will  fork  out  from  time  to  time  as 
they  require  money  for  their  work.  You  will  receive 
a  certain  list  of  properties  to-day,  which  please  put  in 
your  letter  to  me  to-night.  I  think  Pitt  had  better 
have  rehearsal  notices,  in  order  that  ^he  may  know 
where  to  find  us. 

In  case  my  poor  father  should  take  any  bad  turn, 
and  they  should  want  me  hurriedly,  I  have  given  my 
mother  a  paper,  which  in  that  case  she  would  send  to 
you.     It  contains  a  memorandum  of  the  best  way  of 

*  Henry  Austin  was  Dickens's  brother-in-law,  and  intimate  friend.  He 
was  secretary  to  the  Sanitary  Commission  ;  he  died  in  IbGL 

D.E.  E 


50  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

sending  a  messenger  clown  to  Malvern.     I   saw  him 
last  night,  and  he  was  then  doing  quite  well. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Great  Malvern, 

Tiventy-eighth  March.,  1851. 
Friday. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  will  read  the  Execution 
Paper  by  young  Dumas,  this  evening.  I  am  not  able 
to  do  so  before  post-time  (early  here)  having  an  arrear 
of  letters  to  get  through,  but  I  will  return  it  by  the 
■morning  post  to-morrow,  in  case  you  should  desire  to 
know  what  I  think  about  it  at  the  office  to-morrow 
afternoon.  Generally,  I  don't  like,  for  such  a  purpose, 
descriptions  of  executions — and  that  kind  of  French- 
man is  not  likely  to  enlighten  one's  mind  about  them. 
But  we  shall  see. 

I  find  in  the  letter  of  yours  which  I  missed  when 
I  came  up,  a  begging  letter  (about  the  twentieth  from 
the  same  hand)  signed  Thomas  Lewis.  I  can't  make 
out  whether  the  man's  mad  or  only  an  unusual 
vagabond.  I  merely  mention  him  as  a  caution  to  you 
not  to  give  him  anything. 

The  cabs  I  will  do  what  I  can  for,  tomorrow. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Great  Malvern, 

Friday  Niglit,  Twenty-eighth  March,  1851. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  don't  like  young  Dumas' 
paper  at  all.  Nothing  can  justify  such  a  subject,  but 
some  exceedingly  vigorous  treatment  of  it — and  this 
is  in  the  last  degree  ilat  and  poor.  Add  to  the  nature 
of  the  thing  itself,  that  it  is  a  translation  from  a  French 


1851]  CABS.  51 

newspaper,  and  it  is  yet  more  objectionable.     I  am 
quite  clear  against  it. 

I  send  a  paper  by  Chesterton  which  has  not  much 
in  it,  but  which,  called 

"  Coolness  among  Thieves  "* 
— and  altered  by  the  softening  of  some  of  his  hardest 
words  and  finest  writing,  will — do.     I  can't  say  more 
for  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

GiiEAT  Malvern, 

Saturday,  Twenty-ninth  March,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  find  there  is  no  day -post  from 
here,  so  you  will  only  get  the  rejected  Guillotine 
paper  with  this. 

Enclosed,  the  cab  paper.  I  have  done  what  I  can 
with  it,  but  it  is  a  poor  opportunity.  I  hope  the 
information  generally,  is  more  correct  than  that 
appertaining  to  Paris,  as  I  found  it.f 

I  think  I  shall  come  to  town  on  Monday,  and  be  at 
the  office  in  good  time  on  Tuesday  morning. 

I  keep  this  note  open  until  the  arrival  of  to-morrow's 
Post.  But  I  must  not  forget  to  say  that  you  exercised 
the  soundest  possible  discretion  in  the  matter  of 
Chambers,  imd  tliat  I  think  very  well  of  liim  indeed, 
for  his  wholesome  view  of  the  subject. 

Sunday. 

I  am  coming  up  this  afternoon,  with  the  view  of 
dashing  over  to  Bulwer's  somehow  or  other,  to  confer 
with  him  upon  some  points  in  reference  to  which  he 

*  It  c'lijpcarcd  in  the  number  of  May  17th. 

t  "  (.'otninon   Sense  on  VV'lieels,"  by  Dickens,  Wills  and  E.   C.  Urenvillo 
Murray,  Ilouaehfild  WordK,  April  12th. 

E    2 


52  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1851 

is  iu  sudden  agonies.     In  good  time  on  Tuesday,  I 
shull  see  you  at  the  office. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Great  Malvern, 

Monday,  Seventh  April,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  :  —Don't  you  think  it  will  be  best 
for  us  to  breakfast  together — with  a  general  view  to 
H.  W.  —  on  Wednesday  morning  ?  Will  you  break- 
fast with  me  in  Devonshire  Terrace  at  10  ?  1  shall 
see  you  to-morrow  night  of  course,  but  I  send  this 
note  in  case  I  should  otherwise  interfere  with  your 
arrangements. 

I  shall  also  want  to  take  counsel  with  you  about  my 
prospective  occupation  of  the  two  back  rooms  in 
Wellington  Street,  with  iron  bedsteads,  during  the 
Expositional  absence  of  myself  and  family.  I  have 
an  idea  (if  the  Broadstairs  people  be  not  made, 
Expositionally,  more  than  usually  sharkish)  of  taking 
the  Fort  House  from  May  to  October.  x\nd  in  that 
case  I  shall  want  occasionally  to  make  my  tent 
comfortable  at  the  office. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 
— I  write  it  naturally — meaning 
Great  Malvern, 

Sunday,  Thirteenth  Apnl,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  you  the  Police  Article. 
I  have  cut  down  the  number  of  cases,  to  save  tedious- 
ness.  Two  drunken  men,  for  example,  could  scarcely 
have  been  done  with.     It  occurs  to  me  that  I  have  not 


1851 J  NINE   nouns'   WORK  53 

described  the  cells.  But  I  had  better  ''put  in  that," 
and  any  other  line  or  so  that  occurs  to  me,  when  I  get 
the  proof.  For  the  present  slips  are  horribly  mauled. 
I  have  done  all  I  could — sat  at  it  nine  hours  without 
stirring — and  hope  it  will  come  out  well.* 

I  preside  at  the  Fund  Dinner  tomorrow.  I  suppose 
you  don't  go.  Will  5"ou  breakfast  with  mo  again,  on 
Tuesday  morning,  to  talk  over  things  in  general  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Devonshire  Terrace, 

Sunday,  Tiventieth  April,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Charles  Knight  left  the  enclosed 
here,  to-day. 

I  am  taking  Mrs.  Dickens  out,  under  a  variety  of 
pretences,  I  make  one  now,  that  I  am  not  decided 
whether  to  go  to  Wellington  Street  for  our  barrack 
quarters,  or  to  Lancaster  Place.  Will  you  instruct 
Johnson  to  be  at  the  latter  Chambers  to  morrow 
(Monday)  at  a  quarter  past  4,  and  wait  till  I  come  ? 
I  will  show  them  to  her.  We  are  going  to  look  at 
Stone's  house  just  before. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

H.   W. 

Wednesday  Evening,  Fourteenth  May,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  :— -  Thornton  asked  for  you  here, 
at  5.  I  sent  word  through  Mr.  Iloldsworth  that 
you  would  be  at  Devonshire  House  after  7,  and  could 

*  "  Tlie  Metropolitan  Protpctivcs."  by  Dickens  .ind  Wills,  ITuuiirhoJd 
Woril.t,  April  2f)tli.  This  artiele  is  r('pnl)lislieil  by  Wills  in  his  "  Old  Leaves," 
it  being,  however,  iiulicatcd  that  Dickens  hiid  a  part  in  it. 


54  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

be  seen  on  demand.  You  had  best  instruct  the 
Devonshire  House  servants,  accordingly,  on  receipt 
of  this. 

I  have  had  it  in  my  mind  to  say  to  you — and  may 
as  well  do  it  now,  as  at  another  time — that  if  your 
removal  really  should  have  put  you  out  for  a  hundred 
pounds  or  so,  and  you  would  prefer  to  borrow  where 
you  can  certainly  incur  no  obligation  rather  than 
where  you  possibly  might  incur  one  without  meaning 
it — I  shall  be  truly  pleased  to  become  your  banker. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


[The  following  letter  is  wrongly  dated  by  Dickens 
"Thursday,  Twenty-ninth  March."  (1)  It  is  written 
on  black-edged  paper,  and  must,  therefore,  have  been 
subsequent  to  March  31st,  when  John  Dickens  died; 

(2)  Dickens    did   not    go    to   Broadstairs   till   May ; 

(3)  on  March  29th,  which  was  a  Saturday,  Dickens 
was  at  Malvern  (see  previous  letter  of  that  date).] 

Broadstairs, 

Thursday,  Ttocnty-niiith  [May'],  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  we  shall  now  have  a 
very  good  article.  I  have  two  requests  to  make  in 
connexion  with  the  enclosed  copy.  First,  that  you 
will  severely  reprove  the  Whitefriars  people  in  my 
name,  for  having  the  negligence  to  send  me  yesterday 
the  uncorrected  proof  after  all.  Secondly  that  you 
will  very  carefully  correct  the  proof  of  the  new  matter, 
and,  if  you  have  any  doubt,  refer  to  the  manuscript. 

The  cheques  I  enclose,  signed. 

This  is  all  I  have  to  say  about  Household  Words. 


1851]  A  PLAIN   COLD   SUPPER.  55 

Guild. 

I  enclose  a  Memorandum  for  Foster,  the  Property- 
man. 

Will  you  ask  at  Simpson's  what  they  will  put  on  a 
plain  cold  supper  upstairs  in  their  own  place,  for,  on  the 
next  Play  night  at  about  12,  running  the  chance  of 
the  number  who  may  come,  and  of  what  each  man 
may  order  to  drink  for  himself  ?  I  would  merely 
have  cold  joints,  lobsters,  salad,  and  plenty  of  clean 
ice.  Perhaps  there  might  be  one  hot  dish,  as  broiled 
bones.  But  I  would  have  only  one,  and  I  would  have 
it  cheap. 

Then  I  think  Johnson  might  send  round  this  to 
the  company. 

Notice. 

There  will  be  a  plain  cold  supper  ready  at  Mr. 
Simpson's,  the  Albion,  by  Drury  Lane  Theatre,  after 
the  Farce  on  Tuesday,  at  per  head  ;  not  includ- 

ing wine,  spirits,  or  beer,  which  each  gentleman  will 
order  for  himself. 

I  hope  to  begin  the  Police  Article  tomorrow.  I 
have  gone  to  Epsom  very  freshly.  Weather  beautiful. 
Wife  not  so  well. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 
Broadstairs, 

Thirtieth  May,  1851. 
Friday. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Since  you  feel  that  objection, 
perhaps  it  will  be  best  to  alter  the  heading  of  the 
advertisement.  But  it  did  not  occur  to  me  when  I 
saw  it  in  The  Times  yesterday.  I  tliought  it  well 
placed,  and  ver)''  good. 


56  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

Of  course  I  shall  not  answer  the  begging  letter 
enclosed.  If  you  should  receive  another  from  the 
same  man,  I  should  like  the  Mendicity  Society  to  have 
them. 

Have  you  heard  from  Land  ? 

Don't  you  think  some  one  should  supply  refresh- 
ments— as  tea,  coffee,  soda  water,  and  ices  —  at 
Hanover  Square,  for  the  audience  if  they  choose,  as  at 
other  places  of  entertainment. 

If  the  house  should  be  had  on  Monday  Morning,  I 
would  immediately  issue,  per  Johnson,  four  tickets  to 
every  member  of  the  Company.  I  would  also  send 
four  to  Stanfield,  The  Green  Hill,  Hampstead,  four  to 
Eoberts,  7,  Fitzroy  Street,  Fitzroy  Square,  four  to 
Austin,  Board  of  Health,  four  to  Beard  (Private) 
Herald  Office.  It  is  most  important  that  we  should 
be  full,  whatever  we  do,  and  these  would  all  be  safe. 
Perhaps  you  will  confer  with  Mark,*  according  to 
circumstances. 

I  have  begun  the  Night  article,  and  hope  to  bring  it 
up  with  me,  finished. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Fourth  July,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  enclosed  will  do.  I  have 
written  to  the  Author,  accepting  it.  It  wants  a  few 
new  paragraphs,  and  the  omission  of  a  familiar  slang 
phrase  here  and  there. 

Paxton  suggested  to  me,  through  Evans,  a  good 

*  Mark  Lemon,  one  of  tho  founders  of  Punch  and  its  first  editor.     He 
and  Dickens  were  great  friends. 


1851]  ICE.  57 

subject.  Ice,  and  why  should  its  use  be  confined  to 
great  towns.*  IIow  useful  to  the  Farmer,  for  his 
butter  and  so  forth — how  easily  an  ice-house  con- 
structed— and  why  doiiH  he  construct  one,  and  have  it 
filled  on  odd  winter's  days  when  his  men  are  lounging 
about  the  stable  door. 

Baines.     Don't  forget  Baines. 

I  am  astonished  to  find  that  I  had  put  the  letter 
about  my  poor  father's  bill,  into  my  dispatch  box.  I 
must  have  taken  it  out  of  the  drawer,  specially,  but 
I  have  not  the  least  remembrance  of  having  done  so. 
I  enclose  it,  but  suppose  the  bill  will  probably  have 
been  paid  from  the  Memorandum  left  at  the  D.  N. 
office. 

Will  you  kindly  read  the  enclosed  and  see  the  man  ? 
I  have  communicated  with  him  before,  and  (if  I 
remember  right)  given  him  money.  The  books  ho 
speaks  of  are  bad,  but  it  seems  an  affecting  history, 
and  I  should  be  glad  to  give  him  £5  or  so,  if  you 
thought  it  would  do  him  real  service. 

Will  you,  further,  send  Callaghanf  to  Eeeves  the 
Stationers  in  Cheapside  for  two  red  solid  blotters, /o/io 
size,  which  Mark  [Lemon]  will  bring  me  down  if 
Callaghan  will  leave  them  addressed  to  me,  to  his  care, 
in  the  course  of  the  day  at  the  Bedford. 

Will  you,  further,  ask  Charles  Knight  if  he 
remembers  the  address  of  the  agent  to  be  communi- 
cated with  about  the  two  new  houses  on  Hampstead 
Heath — he  gave  me  an  advertisement  during  the 
Play,  which  I  mislaid  for  want  of  a  pocket — and, 
if  he  does,  will  you  write  a  note  to  the  man  in  my 

*  An  article  on  this  subject,  by  Morlcy  and  Wills,  appeared  in  Jlouschold 
Words  on  Ant^ust  Kith, 
t  Callaghan  was  the  attendant  at  the  Ilwutsehidd  Words  office. 


58  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

name,  asking  extent  of  accommodation,  and  purchase- 
particulars. 

I  think  this  is  trouble  enough,  for  one  note  ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Broadstairs, 

Friday  Morning.     In  bed. 

[No  furtlicr  date,  but  it  was  probably  July  11th. J 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  laid  up  with  a  most 
severe  cold,  and  })ains  all  over  me.  I  received  yester- 
day, only  the  enclosed  bit  of  proof,  instead  of  the 
whole.  The  morning's  post  is  not  come  in  when  I 
send  this.     I  suppose  it  will  bring  the  rest, 

I  wish  Hannay  *  would  not  imitate  Carlyle.  Pray 
take  some  of  the  innumerable  dashes  out  of  his  article 
— and  for  God's  sake  don't  leave  in  anything  about 
such  a  man  believing  in  himself — which  he  has  no 
right  to  do  and  which  would  by  inference  justify 
almost  anything.  Yankee  does  not  mean  American 
but  New  England  merely,  I  think. 

*'  In  the  name  of  the  prophet — Smith  !"t 

would  be  a  better  title. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  I). 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Sixteenth  July,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  cheque  you  have  to  pay  to 
my  account  for  the  Greenwich  dinner,  is  £12.  10.  fi. 
The  enclosed  note  and  its  enclosed  papers  are  from 

*  Jiimcs  HaTimiy  (1827 — 18715),  the  novelist  .and  essayist, 
t  An  account  of   Movinoiiisiii  and  its  prophet,  .losiipii  Smith,  by  Wills  nnd 
Hannay.     It  appeared  in  Llou.-<fliuld  Wnnls,  July  I'Jtli. 


1851J  TTTE   GUILD.  59 

Lady  Grey  (Lord  Grey's  wife) .  I  have  written  to  her. 
Can  you  make  a  chip  out  of  them,  and  correct  our 
orthography  of  the  place  ? 

You  know  that  I  have  no  faith  in  advertising 
beyond  a  certain  reasonable  extent.  I  think  it  a 
popular  delusion  altogether.  But  I  do  not  desire  to 
stand  in  the  way  of  what  you  and  Evans  may  concur 
in  deeming  a  business  idea.  And  if  the  expense 
would  be  advisable,  the  Household  Nan-ative  decision 
given,  I  think  it  is  little  less  advisable,  the  decision 
not  given.  Therefore  you  had  better  summon  the 
Lincolnian  Mammoth  *  to  a  meeting  at  3  on  Saturday, 
and  Evans  too,  if  he  be  come  back.  We  will  then 
decide  what  shall  be  done,  and  have  it  done  immediately. 

Guild. 

Miss  Boyle  t  changes  her  mind,  and  wants  a  family 
ticket.  I  have  therefore  directed  her  to  burn  the  one 
you  have  sent  her.  Will  you  tell  Johnson  to  send 
her  a  family  ticket,  for  3  places  together  near  the 
Stage,  to  3  Hamilton  Place,  Piccadilly,  instead  ? 

In  writing  to  Ireland,  I  would  propound  two 
questions — what  is  the  best  time  (if  any)  before 
Chi'istmas  ?     What  is  the  best  time  after  Christmas  ? 

I  have  a  letter  from  Bulwer  this  morning,  in  which 
he  expresses  a  great  solicitude  that  in  case  of  the 
house  being  very  good  on  Monday,  there  should  be 
(with  a  view  to  the  effect  upon  the  Provinces)  another 
last  night — but  only  if  the  house  should  decidedly 
seem  to  justify  it.  Will  you  take  counsel  and  con- 
fidence with  Mitchell  upon  this  ?  If  it  were  decided 
to  be  done,  I  would  give  it  out  at  the  end  of  the 

•  Jolin  Forster,  who  lived  in  Lincoln's  Inn. 

t  The  Hon.  Mary  Boyle,  an  intimate  friend  of  Dickens,  an<l  an  occasional 
contributor  to  llou.iehold  Words. 


60  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

Comedy.     Or  can  Mitchell  suggest  any  other  place  in 
London  where  we  could  make  one  dash  1 

Have  Lady  Bulwer  looked  after.  A  last  chance 
might  stimulate  her  Ladyship  to  desperate  action. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

The  meeting  with  a  view  to  the  Country,  Monday 
the  28th,  at  4  exacthj. 

Of  course  they  are  to  be  called  to  Rehearsal  on  the 
stage,  next  Monday  at  12. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Seventeenth  July,  185L 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  cannot  have  remarked  it — 
but  I  spoke  to  you,  before  leaving,  about  those 
parcels.  It  is  all  right.  They  were  to  go  to  their 
respective  addresses. 

I  am  glad  of  Brockedon's  note.  He  knows  a  good 
deal  about  some  curious  places — is  very  ingenious — 
and  may  be  very  useful. 

A  Name  for  the  Custom-House  article  ?  Hum  ! 
Let  me  see. 

What  do  you  say  to — 

The  Great  House  of  Detention. 

The  Castle  of  Giant  Despair. 

The  Dull  End  of  the  Broad  Arrow. 

Her  Majesty's  only  Disayreeahle  Customs. 

The  Great  Bar  in  the  Harbour  of  Jjondon.* 

They  are  all  pretty  good. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 

*  Tliis  was  the  title  eventually  chosen  for  the  article,  which  was  l)y  Wills. 
It  appeared  in  Jlousehuld  Words  on  July  2Gth. 


1851]     THE   "CHILD'S   HISTORY   OF   ENGLAND."       01 

BiioADSTAiRS,  Kent, 

Sunday,  Twenty -seventh  July,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  sorry  the  Brockcdou 
business  (though  ahnost  unavoidable)  should  have 
arisen.  I  have  written  to  the  wrathful  being,  with 
a  view  to  mollification. 

Bamford  (returned  herewith)  won't  do.  "  The 
Right  One  "  *  poor — but  I  think  just  passable, 

I  enclose  you  another  Shadow  from  Charles  Knight. 
Have  it  put  in  type  at  once,  and  send  him  a  proof. 
I  have  suggested  to  him  some  slight  alterations  in  the 
beginning — of  a  tense  here  and  there — which  will 
make  it  more  fanciful.  He  can  easily  make  them 
in  the  proof.     They  are  a  mere  nothing. 

I  scud  the  "  History  of  England  "f — with  a  very 
jn-etty  bit  in  it,  describing  the  drowning  of  the  son  of 
Henry  the  First.     Proof  to  me  for  correction. 

Also  a  proof  of  that  whole  No.  I  have  had  none 
whatever,  of  next  Wednesday  s  No. 

I  am  glad  you  like  the  Watering  Place  so  much. 
It  pleased  me  exceedingly. 

How  about  Hannay  and  the  Dreadnought  ?  I  am 
in  correspondence  with  Home,  about  some  articles 
that  I  think  he  will  do  very  well  indeed.  Have  you 
told  Morley  about  the  Phantom  Ship  ? 

I  should  like  a  day  or  so  to  consider  about  the 
advertising.  In  the  meantime  go  on  as  at  present, 
and  don't  alter  the  arrangement.  Why  is  it  not  {as 
agreed)  across  the  page  in  the  Examiner  ?  It  is  not 
unwise,  I  suppose,  to  speak  of  those  matters  in  the 

*  It  appeared  on  Au;^ust  9tli. 

t  The  "  Child's  History  of  Eiiglaml,"  by  Dickens,  was  appearing  in  IIouxi- 
futld  Words. 


02  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1851 

Row  ?  ?  ?  I  don't  wonder  at  Punch  falling  ;  for  any- 
thing so  bad,  I  suppose,  never  was  done.  But  H.  W. 
really  is  so  good,  that  it  is  hardly  a  parallel  case. 
Never  mind.  "We  must  stand  to  our  guns  in  the 
most  indomitable  manner,  and  make  it  better  yet.  I 
have  always  had  an  instinctive  feeling  against  the 
Exhibition,  of  a  faint,  inexplicable  sort.  I  have  a 
great  confidence  in  its  being  a  correct  one  somehow 
or  other — perhaps  it  was  a  foreshadowing  of  its 
bewilderment  of  the  public.  My  apprehension — and 
prediction — is,  that  they  will  come  out  of  it  at  last, 
with  that  feeling  of  boredom  and  lassitude  (to  say 
nothing  of  having  spent  tlieir  money)  that  the  re- 
action will  not  be  as  wholesome  and  vigorous  and 
quick,  as  folks  expect. 

When  do  you  go  to  Paris  ?  I  can't  remember. 
And  by  what  train  ?  And  when  do  you  come  back  ? 
Grammar-school  paper  returned  herewith. 

Guild. 

Of  course  Costcllo's  *  idea  about  postponing  the 
next  night  is  simply  frenzy. 

What  I  want  to  be  able  to  do  at  the  meeting  is  to 
be  able  to  say,  "  At  such  a  time  I  propose  such  a  trip 
— at  such  another  time  such  another  trii»— at  such 
another  time,  such  another.  Derby  ?  Have  you 
made  any  enquiries  about  Derby — say,  for  April  ? 
Taxton  f  is  the  man. 

Keep  in  view  the  making  of  the  house  on  Monday 
night  by  the  Company,  if  need  for  it. 


*  Dudley  CoRtello  wfis  one  of  the  actors  in  tlie  Giiilil  performances  and  a 
contribulor  to  Jfouxehold  Words. 

t  Sir  Joseph  l'axtt)n,  the  creator  of  the  Crystal  I'alacc,  was  the  Dnke  of 
Devonshire's  agent  and  chief  gardener  at  Cliatsworth. 


1851]  A  WOULD-BE   CONTRIBUTOR.  03 

General  Botheration. 

It   is  impossible  to  go  on  with  that  unfortunate 

Mr. .     I  met  him  in  the  street  the  last  time  I 

was  in  town,  and  told  him  that  if  I  could  ever  give 
him  anything  to  do,  I  would.  But  that  I  saw  no 
means  or  opening. 

Pray  explain  to  him  that  his  condition  can  have 
nothing  to  do  with  him  in  the  character  of  a  con- 
tributor as  between  us  and  the  public — that  whatever 
goes  into  the  Journal  goes  in  for  its  own  sake,  and 
not  through  any  interest  of  any  sort — otherwise  I 
should  make  contributors  of  a  legion  of  clients, 
including  all  my  poor  relations. 

I  think  this  is  all  at  present. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 
F.S.     To  my  large  letter. 

Don't  lose  sight  of  the  "  Playing  at  Parliament." 
I  don't  see  why  you  took  out  that  allusion  to  the 
Hotel  de  Londres  (in  the  Chamounix  paper),  as  it  is  a 
most  respectable  house  ;  and  the  non-gaming  house 
certainly  deserves  a  lift  against  the  ganjing  house. 
It  was  not  quite  judicious.  What  about  Ice  '^  It 
won't  do  so  well  by  and  by. 

Broadstairs, 

Wednesday  night,  Thirtieth  July,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  went  over  to  Dover — having 
no  other  trip  on  hand — to  see  you.  Was  at  the 
railway  this  morning.  But  could  hear  nothing  of  the 
train  you  mention  in  your  note.  It  is  no  matter.  I 
had  nothing  of  any  moment  to  say — merely  wished  to 
pat  you  on  the  back. 

X   have   gone   through   the    No.    since    retui'ning 


64  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1851 

home.  Again  I  observe  one  or  two  of  the  artick's  in 
a  very  slovenly  state,  both  as  to  the  Queen's  English 
and  pointing.  I  have  not  had  time  to  set  them  quite 
right.  I  wish  you  would  look  at  the  proof  I  have 
sent  Greening,  to  understand  what  I  mean. 

The  notion  I  think  of  trying  with  Home  is  a  kind 
of  adaptation  of  an  old  idea  I  once  had  (when  I  was 
making  my  name)  of  a  fanciful  and  picturesque 
''  Beauties  of  England  and  Wales."  Fori  never  look 
at  the  grimgriffinhoof  "  Beauties  "  without  thinking 
what  might  be  done.  I  have  not  told  Home  what 
my  general  idea  is — I  have  a  notion  that  it  might  be 
made  a  tremendous  card  for  us — but  I  have  proposed 
to  him  to  come  down  with  me  to  Chatham  after  the 
next  play  (on  my  way  back)  and  take  certain  bits  of 
the  Dockyard  and  fortifications.*  Don't  you  think  a 
Series  of  Places,  ivell  chosen,  and  described  well,  with 
their  peculiarities  and  popularities  thoroughly  seized, 
would  be  a  very  promising  Series  ?  And  one  that 
people  would  be  particularly  likely  to  identify  with  me  ? 

In  haste  to  save  the  Post. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

If  I  found  the  Chatham  paper  come  out  well,  I 
would  cast  about  for  a  way  of  making  a  splash  with 
it,  as  a  new  branch  of  the  H.  W.  Tree. 

BilOADSTAlRS, 

Sunday,  Tenth  jiugust,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  two  slight  notes  for 
corrections  in  proofs  I  have  been  reading,  t 

•  "One  Mail  in  a  Dockyard,"  by  Dickens  and  Home,  appeared  in  Ifimxe- 
hold  Wordx,  September  6th  of  this  year.  I  cannot  find,  however,  that  the 
subject  wsiH  pursued  as  Dickens  sugj^ests. 

t  For   JJouseliold    Word*,    August   23rd,   in   which  number  the  articles 


1851]  "THE   KEY  OF  THE   STREET."  65 

In  Hannay's  "Dreadnought,"  for  Yankees  read 
Americans. 

In  the  "  May  Festival "  of  Miss  Ilowitt  (very  good) 
for  the  Lord's  love  don't  let  us  have  any  allusion  to 
the  Great  Exhibition.  Make  the  first  sentence  the 
first  paragraph,  and  then  go  on  with  the  second  para- 
graph as  it  stands.  Also  substitute  names  for  those 
initial  letters,  Mr.  G.  and  the  like. 

I  don't  know  what  to  write  about,  in  the  absence  of 
your  Paris-trip  notes,  but  I  think  of  a  paper  on 
"  Whole  Hogs  " — Peace  Society,  Temperance  Do., 
and  Yegetarians — all  of  whom  have  lately  been  making 
stupendous  fools  of  themselves. 

Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 

Bkoadstairs,  Kent, 

Thirteenth  August,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  written  to  the  Author  of 
the  "  Key  of  the  Street,"  accepting  his  paper.  It  is 
a  very  remarkable  piece  of  description,  and  (although 
there  is  little  fancy  in  it)  exceedingly  superior  to  the 
usual  run  of  such  writing.  I  have  delicately  altered 
it  myself,  so  as  to  leave  no  offence  in  it  whatever.  If 
the  young  man  can  write,  generally,  as  well  as  that, 
he  will  be  an  acquisition  to  us.  I  think  it  quite  good 
enough  for  a  first  article — but  we  will  not  put  it  first, 
for  fear  we  should  spoil  him  in  the  beginning.  It  is 
sure  to  tell.  Will  you  send  him  a  Proof  ?  George 
A.  Sala,  17,  Upper  Wellington  Street.''^ 


mentioned,  as  well    as    an    article  by   Dickens   entitled   "  Whole   Hogs," 
appeared.     Dickens  used  that  term  to  imply  misdirected  effort  inspired  by 
wrong-heatled  zeal  (see  letter  of  September  25th,  1854). 
•  Tlie  article  appeared  September  6th. 

D.E.  F 


66  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

I  expect  the  proof  of  "Whole  Hogs"  to-morrow 
morning,  and  will  send  it  back  by  return. 

I  am  now  going  at  once  to  do  the  *'  Flight  to 
France."  I  think  I  shall  call  it  merely  "  A  Flight "  * 
— which  will  be  a  good  name  for  a  fanciful  paper. 
Let  me  have  your  notes  by  return.     Don't  fail. 

Can  you  give  me  any  facts  about  Waste  of  money 
at  Chatham  ?     If  so — do. 

Miss  Martineau  all  right.  Send  Howitt  t  his  proof 
to  coiTect. 

You  will  find  (I  think)  that  my  other  half's  invita- 
tion refers  to  next  month — when  I  hope  you  will  be 
better  able  to  accept  it. 

Guild. 
Lemon  will  look  into  all  those  matters. 

Myself. 

I  wish,  when  you  can,  you  would  take  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  our  friend  the  Eegistrar  of  Merchant 
Seamen,  and  ask  him  from  me  whether  he  is  ever 
acquainted  with  the  individual  characters  of  Australian 
Emigrant  Ships  and  their  Discipline,  and  could  say  to 
me,  (this  is  with  a  view  to  Miss  Coutts's  Home)  such 
a  Ship  going  to  sail  at  such  a  time,  is  a  good  one — 
Captain  may  be  trusted.  If  he  has  such  means  of 
knowledge,  and  would  favour  me  by  communicating 
them  (of  course  in  confidence)  he  could  render  me 
just  the  help  we  want  and  do  a  great  deal  of  good. 

Will  you  send  Callaghan  twice  a  week  to  Devon- 

*   It  appeared  August  30th. 

t  William  Howitt  (1792 — 1879),  poet,  novelist  and  descriptive  writer, 
mainly  in  collaboration  with  his  wife,  Mary  Howitt.  He  went  to  Australia 
with  K.  H.  Home  in  1852. 


1851]  TITLES  IN   ENGLAND.  67 

shire  Terrace  to  see  whether  there  are  in  the  [?  any] 
letters  in  the  hall  or  in  the  garden  letter  box. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Twenty -Second  August,  1851. 
Friday. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  want  the  enclosed  change 
made  in  the  "  Work  of  the  World."  * 

The  introduction  to  "  Soldiers'  Wives  "  f  must  be 
entirely  re-written,  and  should  be  a  plain  and  earnest 
representation  of  an  obvious  impropriety.  Pray  take 
out  of  the  correspondent's  part  the  message  about 
"quivering  at  the  smell  of  gin" — which  makes  me 
shudder  from  head  to  foot,  in  its  unspeakable  badness. 

"  The  Whitsuntide  Festival "  is  so  horribly  maudlin 
and  washy,  that  nothing  can  be  done  with  it. 

I  want  a  great  paper  done,  on  the  distribution  of 
Titles  in  England.  It  would  be  a  very  remarkable 
thing  to  take  the  list  of  the  House  of  Peers,  the  list 
of  Baronets  and  Knights,  and  (without  personality) 
divide  the  more  recent  titles  into  classes  and  ascertain 
what  they  were  given  for.  How  many  chemists,  how 
many  men  of  Science,  how  many  writers,  how  many 
aldermen. 

How  much  intellect  represented. 

How  much  imagination. 

How  much  learning. 

How  much  expression  of  the  great  progress  of  the 
country.  How  much  of  Eailway  construction,  of 
Electric  Telegraph  discovery,  of  improvements  in 
machinery,  of  any  sort  of  contribution  to  the  happiness 

*  By  Morley,  Household  Words,  September  13th. 
t  Household  Words,  September  6th  (chip). 

F    2 


G8  CHAELES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

of   mankind.     How   much   soldiering.     How    much 
Law. 

I  think  this  well  done,  would  make  a  prodigious 
impression.  And  if  you  can  get  a  powerful  array  of 
the  facts  together,  plainly  stated  for  my  use,  I  will  do 
the  Paper,  and  (I  feel  confident)  with  great  advantage 
to  us,  and  to  the  question. 

What  is  Brown's  address  ?  Is  he  Commodore  or 
what  ?     Tell  me  and  I  will  write  to  him. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Mondmj,  September  SixthylSbl . 

My  Dear  Wills: — Let  me  have  a  note  of  what 
you  propose  for  the  next  No. — reserving  the  "  History 
of  England  "  for  the  No.  afterwards.  Let  us  have  the 
best  Nos.  now,  that  we  possibly  can  have.  Also  let 
me  see  a  made-up  Proof. 

Morley's  "Gold"*  requires  looking  over,  for  a 
little  carelessness  here  and  there — the  repetition  of 
buts  and  howevers,  &c. 

In  Home's  "  Ballooning,"  f  always  insert  "  Mr." 
before  "  Green."  Also  insert  "  Mr."  before  "  Poole," 
and  call  him  the  well-known  Author.  At  the  end  of 
the  third  paragraph  from  the  commencement,  instead 
of  "  fanatical  sentence  was  carried  into  execution," 
read  "  Sentence  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church  was 
carried  into  Christian  execution." 

I  think  of  deciding  to  return  to  town  on  the  20th 
— perhaps  remaining  a  week  or  so  at  the  office,  before 
I  remove  my  furniture,  and  restore  the  Second  Floor 

*  Uoutchold  Wordi^  October  18th. 
t  Household  Words,  October  25th. 


1851]  THE   GUILD.  69 

room.  Therefore,  any  time  after  that,  (you  getting 
up  in  the  meanwhile  all  the  preliminary  part  of  the 
subject)  you  may  appoint  with  the  Pawnbroker.  On 
Saturday  the  25th  we  had  better  dine  at  the  office — 
with  Morley,  Home,  and  (I  suppose)  Forster — to 
decide  upon  the  form  and  idea  of  the  Christmas  No. 
I  think  it  would  be  well  to  let  Morley  and  Horne 
know  beforehand  what  we  are  going  to  meet  for ;  as 
they  might  then  have  some  suggestion  to  make.  On 
second  thoughts  Monday  the  27th  might  be  better. 
The  Saturday  might  be  required  for  the  Pawnbroker. 

In  "  The  London  Tavern,"  *  dele  "  the  actor,"  after 
"  Mr.  Macready." 

I  wish  Forster  to  try  the  marking  of  the  Extracts. 
I  write  to  him  to  that  effect,  and  inform  him  that  you 
will  let  him  know  ivhen  it  must  always  be  done. 

Guild. 

I  return  Proofs  of  the  bills,  now  to  be  referred  to 
Mr.  Chute. 

Will  you  write  Webster  a  note,  asking  for  Miss 
Young  and  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Coe  on  the  Monday,  Tues- 
day, and  Wednesday  ? 

I  have  not  yet  got  Coe's  Property  List,  and  conse- 
quently cannot  instruct  Mr.  Chute,  as  to  the  Furniture 
we  shall  want  hired. 

I  have  written  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Great 
Western. 

Nathan's  bill,  I  will  look  over  and  refer  to  Mark.   ■. 

Personal. 

I  have  told  the  Gardener  to  see  you,  and  you  will 
explain  to  him  exactly  what  I  want  done  at  Tavistock 

*  By  Hannay  and  Wills,  Household  Wordi,  October  18th. 


70  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1851 

House.  He  will  then  make  an  estimate  of  tlie  probable 
cost,  and  send  it  to  me.  On  a  separate  piece  of  paper, 
I  make  a  rough  plan,  which  I  hope  you  may  compre- 
hend without  difficulty. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 

I  have  told  the  Gardener,  in  writing  to  him  for  his 
estimate,  that  'punctuality  and  dispatch  are  conditions 
on  which  I  always  insist.  Will  you  bear  testimony  to 
him  that  I  usually  am  in  earnest  on  these  heads  ? 

Broadstairs, 

Twenty -seventh  September,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  this  by  Topping  who 
comes  to  town,  partly  for  IT.  W.  and  partly  for  me,  and 
whose  costs  and  charges  I  shall  divide  between  the 
two  concerned. 

I  have  gone  through  Mr.  Sala's  paper,  and  have  cut 
a  great  deal  out,  and  made  it  compact  and  telling.  I 
wish  you  would  see  him  and  tell  him  that  I  have  kept 
it  as  close  as  I  could  to  his  title — not  because  the 
omitted  parts  were  bad  (indeed  they  are  very  good) 
but  because  they  refer  to  used-up  aspects  of  the  sub- 
ject.    It  had  better  go  into  the  next  No.* 

There  is  nobody  about  us  whom  we  can  use,  in  his 
way,  more  advantageously  than  this  young  man.  It 
will  be  exceedingly  desirable  to  set  him  on  some  sub- 
jects. I  will  endeavour  to  think  of  a  few,  suited  to 
him.  Suggest  to  him  Saturday  night  in  London,  or 
London  Markets — Newport  Market,  Tottenham  Court 
Road,  Whitechapel  Road  (where  there  are  the  most 
extraordinary  men  holding  forth  on  Saturday  night 

*  "  The  Foreign  Invasion,"  by  Sala,  appeared  October  11th. 


1851]  SUBJECTS.  71 

about  Corn  Plaister — tlie  most  extraordinary  things 
sold,  near  Whitechapel  workhouse — the  strangest 
Shows — and  the  wildest  cheap  Johns) — the  New  Cut, 
&c.,  &c.,  &c.  I  think  he  would  make  a  capital  paper 
out  of  it. 

I  enclose  a  curious  chip  from  Peter  Cunningham. 

Also  a  note  and  cutting  from  Jerrold.  You  might 
get  hold  of  the  man.  Mr.  Sala  would  do  him  capitally. 
Scott  of  the  Advertiser  will  give  you  any  information 
that  he  possesses,  if  you  ask  in  my  name. 

I  want  Miss  Jeivshury^s  *  paper.  I  must  read  it 
myself,  and  write  to  her. 

Topping  returns  early  to-morrow  morning.  If  he 
should  not  find  you  when  he  brings  this,  he  shall 
arrange  with  Callaghan  that  he  will  call  at  the  office 
for  anything  you  have  to  send,  to-morroiv  morning  at  8. 

I  have  not  thought  of  anything  yet.  But  I  hope 
to  cudgel  something  out  of  myself  yet. 

Faithfully  always, 

CD. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Monday  J  Tiventy-ninth  September,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  "  sparkling  "  Muse  has  not 
been  at  all  propitious.  I  didn't  like  "  Eising  with  the 
Subject " — put  it  away.  Began  another  paper  called 
the  "  Steam  Soliloquy" — didn't  like  that  cither,  and 
put  it  away  too.  To-day  I  have  begun  another,  called 
"  Our  School  "  t — like  that  better,  but  don't  know 
when  I  may  be  able  to  finish  it — doubt  doing  so, 
tomorrow,  for  next  No. — can't  say — may  be — may 
not. 

*  Miss  Geraklino  Endsor  Jewsbury  (1812 — 1880),  the  friend  of  Mrs. 
Carlyle.  The  paper  referred  to  was  probably  "  A  Curious  Page  of  Family 
History,"  in  Household  Words  of  December  6th, 

f  Household  Words,  October  11th. 


72  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

I  have  had  such  an  affectionate  note  of  invitation 
from  the  Dulie  [of  Devonshire],  that  I  can't  help 
running  down  to  Chatsworth  howsoever  short  the  time 
I  can  spare  for  the  purpose.  I  shall  go  down  on 
Thursday,  and  return  on  Saturday.  If  you  have  no 
engagement  in  the  way,  let  us  dine  at  the  office  at 
I  past  5  on  Wednesday  next — the  day  after  tomorrow. 
We  can  dine,  arrange  the  No.  and  break  up  the 
meeting,  in  two  or  three  hours.  I  shall  want  the 
evening  after  9  o'clock  and  cannot  make  any  other 
appointment. 

The  Guild  matters  we  will  dispose  of  on  Wednesday. 

The  paper  you  mention,  is  (as  I  told  you,  but  you 
have  forgotten)  in  the  left  hand  drawer  of  my  writing 
table  at  the  office.  The  case  has  been  examined,  but 
no  such  note  can  be  found  here. 

Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 

Broadstairs,  Kent, 

Thursdatjj  Ninth  October ,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills: — Perhaps  you  will  answer  the 
enclosed  letters.  To  Miss  Bunbury,  I  should  be 
inclined  to  say  that  we  don't  want  her  papers,  and 
that  I  cannot  undertake  the  responsibility  of  mediat- 
ing in  such  a  matter  with  any  other  Editor.  Mr. 
Keith  you  will  perhaps  appoint  to  see  yourself.  If 
his  proposal  involves  my  sitting  to  anybody,  acceptance 
is  quite  out  of  the  question. 

Market  Gardens  near  London,  is  a  fine  subject. 
Chadwick  can  open  the  way  to  a  first-rate  Market 
Gardener,  if  you  will  consult  him  in  my  name.  This 
is  another  subject  you  might  get  ready  by  the  time 
of  my  return. 


1851]  ELEGANCE   OF   FANCY.  73 

I  purpose  being  at  the  office  between  1  and  2  on 
Saturday.  If  Erasmus  Wilson  *  should  call,  will  you 
see  him?  I  understand  he  has  something  to  com- 
municate. 

Mrs. 's  story  will  be  very  good  now,  I  think. 

It  would  be  as  easy  (almost)  to  write  one,  as  I  found 
it  to  get  point  and  terseness  out  of  such  an  infernal 
hash. 

I  think  I  have  no  more  to  say,  today — except  that 
the  Gardener  has  sent  a  very  business-like,  prompt, 
plain,  and  not  unreasonable  estimate. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Broadstaiks, 

Thursday,  Sixteenth  October j  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  the  proof  of  "  The 
Child's  History  "  by  the  cheap  train. 

I  have  been  looking  over  the  back  Numbers. 
Wherever  they  fail,  it  is  in  wanting  elegance  of  fancy. 
They  lapse  too  much  into  a  dreary,  arithmetical, 
Cocker- cum- Walkingame  dustyness  that  is  powerfully 
depressing. 

Faithfully  always, 

C.  D. 


[Wills  to  Dickens.    Answer  to  the  preceding  letter. 
From  Wills's  ''  Letter  Book."] 

Seventeenth  October,  1851. 

My  Dear  Dickens  : — The  only  fair  way  of  judging 
of  the  contents  of  Household   Words  is,  I  think,  to 

*  Afterwards  Sir  Erasmus  Wilson  (1809 — 1884),  flermatolo<Tist,  Egypto- 
logist and  philanthropist.  He  brought  Cleopatra's  Needle  to  England  at  a 
cost  of  £10,000. 


74  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

compare  them  with  those  of  other  publications  of  its 
class.  From  such  a  comparison  we  come  out 
brilliantly  in  the  very  excellence  which  you  say  we 
want — fancy.  It  is  universally  acknowledged  that 
subjects  of  an  uninviting  nature  are  treated — as  a 
rule — in  Household  Words  in  a  more  playful,  ingenious 
and  readable  manner  than  similar  subjects  have  been 
hitherto  presented  in  other  weekly  periodicals ;  but  to 
such  a  rule  there  must  necessarily  be  large  exceptions 
in  all  works  which  demand  a  certain  space  to  be  filled 
by  a  certain  time  every  week.  ^NTo  one,  not  even 
yourself  (as  you  said  the  other  day)  *  can  sparkle  to 
order,  especially  writers  who  have  only  an  occasional 
sparkle  in  them.  As  to  the  "  Elegance  of  Fancy  " 
you  desiderate,  that,  I  apprehend,  is  simply  impossible 
as  the  prevailing  characteristic  of  twenty-four  pages 
of  print  published  fifty-two  times  a  year.  Elegance 
of  fancy  cannot  be  thrown  broadcast  over  such  an 
acreage  of  letter-press ;  although,  happily  for  Household 
Words  (and  for  Household  Words  alone)  it  can  be 
sprinUed  over  its  pages.  If  you  could  regularly  see 
and  go  over  each  sheet  before  it  is  put  to  press  there 
would  be  a  very  thick  sprinkling  of  the  excellence  in 
which  you  say  Household  Words  is  deficient.  When 
the  number  has  had  the  benefit  of  your  revision  the 
touches  you  have  given  to  it  have  improved  it  to  a 
degree  that  has  seemed  to  me  marvellous.  I  was 
delighted  with  your  proposal  of  coming  from  Broad- 
stairs  every  Wednesday,  to  give  a  finishing  touch,  for 
a  reason  personal  to  myself.  It  would  be  most 
gratifying  to  me  if  my  own  judgment  could  be 
brought  to  some  corrective  test.  I  should  go  on  with 
more  confidence  because  with   less  imcertainty.      I 

*  See,  ante,  letter  of  September  29tli, 


1851]  THE  CHRISTMAS  NUMBER.  75 

have  my  own  notions  of  what  such  a  publication  as 
Household  Words  should  be ;  and,  although  I  have 
good  reason  to  suppose  from  the  latitude  of  confidence 
you  give  me,  that  my  notions  square  with  your  own 
generally,  yet  I  cannot  (less  perhaps  than  many  other 
men)  be  always  right ;  and  it  would  lift  a  great  weight 
of  responsibility  from  me  if  everything  which  passes 
into  the  columns  of  Household  Words  had  the  systematic 
benefit  of  another  judgment  before  publication. 
Believe  me  ever  faithfully  yours, 

W.  H.  Wills. 

Tavistock  House, 

Eighth  December,  1851. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  can't  begin  the  Xmas  article 
and  am  going  out  to  walk,  after  vain  trials.* 

I  send  you  some  papers  that  I  have,  and  the  book 
from  Willis's  (did  you  pay  for  it  ?)  out  of  which  I 
think  Morley  can  make  a  good  article  as  to  the  Science 
of  our  ancestors.  I  don't  agree  with  you  about  Law's 
article.  Eeading  it  this  morning  before  going  to 
return  it,  I  thought  it  sensible  and  useful  and  quite 
in  our  way.  I  send  it  to  you  with  a  new  name,  to  be 
set  up. 

It  seems  to  me  that  what  the  Xmas  ISTo.  wants,  is 
something  with  no  detail  in  it,  but  a  tender  fancy 
that  shall  hit  a  great  many  people.  This  is  what  I 
am  trying  for.     If  I  can  get  it,  it  will  not  be  lengthy. 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  Chancery  informa- 
tion. I  had  got  to  that  Number  of  Solicitors — by  a 
sort  of  instinct  I  suppose — but  had  modestly  limited 
my  costs  to  from  forty  to  fifty  thousand  pounds. 

*  Dickens's  contribution   to  the   Christmas  numlier  this  year  was  the 
article  entitled  "  What  Christmas  Is  As  We  Grow  Older." 


76  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

I  have  not  received  a  proof  of  Sydney's  article 
intact  and  uncut.     Let  me  have  it. 

Faithfully  always, 

CD. 

Thursday  Night,  Tenth  December ,  1851. 

**  You  are  quite  right  my  Dear  Wills  "  (as  a  friend 
of  ours  would  say)  *  about  St.  Michael's  Mount.  I 
had  associated  with  the  place  in  Cornwall,  for  which  I 
have  a  romantic  tenderness,  another  little  historical 
passage — and  so  firmly  settled  in  my  own  mind  that 
this  passage  occurred  there,  that  I  take  it  very  ill  it 
didn't.  Your  suggestion  fired  (in  half  an  hour)  a 
train  of  damp  gunpowder,  which  blew  my  belief  to 
shivers. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1852. 

The  provincial  performances  of  Lytton's  comedy  on 
behalf  of  the  Guild  of  Literature  and  Art  continued 
this  year,  Dickens  being  still  the  master-spirit.  Three 
summer  months  he  spent  at  Dover,  and  then  crossed 
the  Channel  on  a  short  visit  to  Boulogne.  This  was  a 
very  strenuous  year  for  him.  lie  was  busy  with 
''Bleak  House ";  was  dictating  "The  Child's  His- 
tory," which  was  continuing  in  Household  Words ;  and 
was  both  editing  that  journal  and  writing  various 
articles  for  it. 


*  Who  this  friend  was  I  cannot  say  with  certainty,  hut  I  incline  (and 
Mr.  H.  F.  Dickens,  K.C.,  af^rces  with  me)  to  think  it  was  .lolin  l''orster.  He 
appears  to  have  usetl  this  "My  Dear"  style  of  allocution.  Sec  the  letter 
of  April  24th,  1854.  Dickens  quotes  these  words  again  in  the  letter  of 
August  12th,  1852. 


1852]  STANDING   FOR  PARLIAMENT.  77 

In  the  first  letter  (February  28th),  he  refers  to  some 
suggestion  which  had  been  made  to  him  to  stand  for 
Parliament.  Such  proposals  were  more  than  once 
repeated,  but  he  never  seriously  entertained  them 
(see  "Life,"  III.,  460). 

The  "  dear  friend,"  to  whose  death  he  refers  in  the 
letter  of  August  1st,  was  Mr.  E.  "Watson,  of  Rocking- 
ham Castle,  Northants.  Dickens  had  first  met  him 
and  his  wife  at  Lausanne  in  1846,  and  a  very  warm 
friendship  had  sprung  up  between  them. 


Tavistock  House, 

Tiventy -eighth  February ^  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — These  people  have  really 
managed  the  expenses  most  admirably,  and  deserve 
our  best  consideration. 

I  immediately  replied  to  the  enclosed  about  the 
Light  Buoys.  I  wish  you  would  go  down,  see  the 
nature  of  the  thing,  and  make  an  appointment  for 
Home,  unless  it  seems  to  you  something  that  you  and 
I  could  decidedly  do  better  together.  If  Home  does 
it,  tell  him  that  the  question  of  the  Trinity  House,  or 
the  Corporation,  has  no  need  to  be  touched  at  all — 
that  we  want  a  piece  of  good  description. 

Miss  Zornlevin,  or  whatever  her  name  is — have  you 
asked  about  her  ?  Miss  Coutts*  is  coming  here  this 
evening,  and  I  should  like  to  be  able  to  give  her  some 
information,  or  Miss  N.'s  address,  or  something. 

In  the  Parliamentary  matter — it  is  impossible  that 
I  could  go  into  it  with  the  new  book  in  hand.  If  I 
had  only   H.  W.  I  might   possibly   make   the  dash, 

*  Afterwards  the  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts.  Dickens  had  a  high  regard 
for  her,  and  often  helped  her  in  her  charitable  under tiikings. 


78  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

but  I  should  be  worried  to  death  if  I  did  it  now. 
And  I  don't  know  but  I  am  far  more  useful  (and 
certainly  far  more  happy)  in  my  own  sphere  of 
service  than  among  the  bellowers  and  prosers  of 
St.  Stephen's. 

Ever  faithfuUy, 

C.  D. 


Tavistock  House, 

Saturdmjj  Thirteenth  March,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  happy  to  say  that  Mrs. 
Dickens  is  just  confined  with  a  brilliant  boy  of 
unheard-of  dimensions,*  and  is  wonderfully  well. 

Will  you  send  Callaghan  round  with  the  enclosed, 
and  give  him  the  money  to  pay  for  their  insertion. 

And  don't  you  think  Home  and  Morley  had  best 
dine  with  us  on  Thursday,  with  a  view  to  the  possible 
collision  of  ideas  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

[To  the  above  letter  Wills  has  added  the  following 
note : — 

"  Fame  ! 

"  When  John  "I"  (Callaghan  didn't  go)  called  with  the 
notice  at  the  Morning  Advertiser  office,  pointing  out 
that  no  newspaper  ever  charged  Mr.  Charles  Dickens 
for  inserting  such  announcements,  the  clerk  replied, 
'  Charles  Dickens  ? — Charles  Dickens  ?  What  house 
does  he  keep .'"  "] 

•  His  fievcnth  son  and  last  child,  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton  Dickens.     He 
was  nicknamed  "  I'lornish"  or  "the  Plornishghenter." 

t  John  was  Dickens's  servant.    His  name  occurs  frequently  in  the  letters. 


1852]  «'HOPE,  AN   EPIGRAM."  79 

Tavistock  House, 

Twenty-ninth  Aprilj  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — We  forgot  to  speak,  yesterday, 
about  the  begging  letters.  I  send  with  this  a  black 
surtout.  That  and  £2  will  be  sufficient,  I  think, 
for  the  Eathbone  Place  man. 

£2  for  Macpherson,  the  orphan. 

£1  for  the  Needlewoman. 

And  after  this,  I  really  must  pull  up.  For  I  have 
no  funds  but  my  own  in  hand  or  in  reversion ;  and 
I  get  these  letters  by  hundreds — not  counting  those 
that  you  get. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Third  June,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  hasty  note,  for  I  have  been 
at  work  the  whole  day,  and  am  (for  my  sins)  engaged 

to  dine  with . 

H.  W. 

I  went  over  the  proof.  I  could  not  conceive  what 
"  Hope,  An  Epigram,"*  meant,  and  I  declare  to  you 
I  have  not  the  least  idea  now !  Having  nothing  to 
put  in  its  place,  I  could  not  distui'b  the  Make-up 
by  taking  it  out. 

Guild. 

You  are  doing  nobly  ! ! !  The  York  idea  is  a  most 
admirable  one,  and  will  keep  us  quite  right  in  any 
case.  We  must  get  at  least  another  Thousand 
Pounds  clear. 

*  This  appeared  in  Iloimhold  Words,  June  12th,  but  no  name  ig  attached 
to  it  iu  the  office  book. 


80  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

Horne's  Dinner.* 

We  shall  be  10,  I  think.  Coote  is  coming  as  a 
guest — and  a  piano.  I  would  on  no  account  intro- 
duce strangers — such  as  Mr.  Hunt — with  so  small  a 
party.  I  know  it  would  never  do :  most  especially 
with  Home,  under  the  circumstances.  I  have  made  a 
tardy  exception  in  favor  of  Evans  as  one  of  the 
Proprietors  of  H.   W. 

Place  the  Albion — our  Albion — time  6  for  J  jjast. 

Again  let  me  sound  the  loud  timbrel  in  your 
Guild  praises. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

I  am  not  quite  sure  of  your  Cork  calculations.  We 
will  discuss  before  I  answer  the  letter. 

Fieldf  I  postponed  until  next  Wednesday.  It  was 
of  little  use  after  all,  my  going  alone — and  horribly 
boreing. 

Dover, 

Thursday  J  Twenty -Ninth  July,  1852, 

My  Dear  Wills:— Miss  Coutts  writes  me  this 
morning,  that  she  will  willingly  assist  this  case  if  it 
should  turn  out  to  be  perfectly  genuine.  Will  you, 
on  receipt  of  this,  write  a  letter  to  the  applicant, 
stating  that  you  are  in  my  confidence,  and  making  an 
appointment  with  him — not  delaying  it,  as  the  matter 
seems  to  press.  The  thing  is,  to  have  such  proofs 
and  references  and  documents  or  something,  from  him, 
as  shall  render  deception  perfectly  impossible.  The 
thing  to  be  said  to  him,  is,  that  the  case  is  beyond  my 

*  Probably  a  dinner  giren  to  Home  before  his  departure  for  Australia, 
t  Inspector  Field,  of  the  Detective  Police.    See  letters  of  September  17th, 
1850,  iwte. 


1852]  THE   DEATH   OP   A   FRIEND.  81 

means,  but  that  I  have  an  affluent  and  generous  friend 
to  whom  I  think  I  can  recommend  it  usefully,  if  it  be 
thoroughly  proved.  Bear  in  mind  that  he  may  be  a 
begging  letter  wiiter  of  the  worst  suit. 

If  you  will  send  me  your  account  of  him  by  any 
convenient  means  you  like,  I  will  lose  no  time  in 
communicating  with  Miss  Coutts  again.  But  we 
must  be  thoroughly  sure  of  the  facts  before  I  can 
take  any  money  from  her. 

'J'he  Sunderland  bill  (if  we  play  there)  and  like- 
wise the  Liverpool  bill,  I  must  see  a  proof  of  before 
they  are  issued.  Two  parts  will  have  to  be  changed 
in  each. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

10,  Camden  Crescent,  Dover, 

Sunday,  First  August,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills: — You  have  anticipated  how 
deeply  grieved  I  have  been  by  the  loss  of  my  dear 
friend.*  I  had  heard  from  Mrs.  Watson's  brother  of 
his  lying  at  the  point  of  death,  before  it  was  mentioned 
in  the  paper.  He  dined  with  us  this  day  three  weeks, 
full  of  projects  for  future  happiness  in  the  house 
where  we  have  been  so  merry,  and  which  is  now  so 
desolate.  I  loved  him  in  my  heart,  as  one  of  the 
truest  and  most  affectionate  of  men. 

I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  taking  so  much 
trouble  about  that  afflicted  clergyman.  I  have  now 
reported  favorably  of  his  case,  and  have  no  doubt  that 
you  may  make  a  final  appointment  with  him  at  the 
office,  for  Wednesday  afternoon. 

*  See  Introduction  to  this  year. 
D.E.  G 


82  CHAELES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOK.  [1852 

H.  W. 

I  thought  our  '' Honourable  Friend  "*  would  be  a 
success.     It  seems  to  be  making  a  great  noise. 

I  don't  agree  with  you  as  to  the  "Angel"  sketch, 
which  is  very  curious  and  good.  I  have  accepted  it 
by  itself,  but  not  as  one  of  a  series. 

The  Liverpool  bill  I  have  altered.  As  to  Sunder- 
land (supposing  that  performance  to  come  off)  Costello 
will  write  to  you  directly  (at  my  request)  to  say  if  he 
can  play  there.  If  yes,  the  bill  will  require  no 
alteration.  If  no,  then  Coe  for  Lord  Lof tus  in  that  bill 
(Smart,  Mr.  Miller),  and  Stone  for  Mr.  Nightingale. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  know  as  soon  as  possible  about 
Sunderland,  with  a  view  to  Lord  Carlisle. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

C.  D. 


[The  first  paragraph  of  the  following  letter  is  printed 
in  "Letters,"  III.,  137,  as  the  first  paragraph  of  a 
letter  dated  "1,  Junction  Parade,  Brighton,  Thursday 
night,  4th  March,  1853."  The  rest  of  the  letter  there 
printed  is  taken  from  one  written  on  the  tenth  March, 
1853  {vid.  ■post).'] 

10,  Camden  Crescent,  Dover, 

Twelfth  August,  1852,  Thursday. 

H.  W. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  sorry,  but  Brutus  sacrifices 
unborn  children  of  his  own  as  well  as  those  of  other 
people — the  "  Sorrows  of  Childhood,"  long  in  type  and 
long  a  mere  mysterious  name,  must  come  out.  The 
paper  really  is,  like  the  celebrated  ambassadorial 
appointment,  "  too  bad." 

*  By  Dickens,  7/<;j«<?/ioW  HtfrtZ,?,  July  31st. 


1852]  W.   MOY   THOMAS.  83 

Sitting  down  this  morning  to  Morley's  "  Boys  to 
Mend,"*  I  couldn't  take  to  it  on  the  short  notice,  and 
thought  of  the  enclosed  instead.  You  shall  have  the 
rest  (about  three  slips)  by  tomorrow's  post. 

I  will  also  go  over  the  No.  and  send  it  at  the  same 
time. 

That  Hop  subject  of  last  year.  Is  Sala  in  town  ? 
He  might  do  it  very  well,  if  he  be.  The  time  is 
coming  on  again.  If  he  be  not  in  town,  could  Thomas t 
be  got  up  to  it  ? 

Guild. 

I  am  delighted  to  hear  such  cheering  accounts. 

After  reading  the  enclosed  letter  from  Coote,  will 
you  instruct  Johnson  to  get  the  music  mentioned  in 
it,  and  take  it  down  when  we  all  go. 

You  are  ^^  quite  right  my  dear  Wills,":}:  about 
Sloman  and  his  extra  man. 

Aspects  of  Nature. 

We  have  had  a  tremendous  sea  here — steam  packets 
in  the  harbour,  frantic,  and  dashing  their  brains  out 
against  the  stone  walls.  § 

Art. 

Stone  harassing  himself,  with  doubts  whether 
he  shall  have  Mrs.  Stone  to  Manchester — also  with 
Charles  XII. 


*  "  Boys  to  Mend,"  by  C.  D.  and  Morley,  appeared  in  Umschold  Worth, 
September  lltli. 

t  This  was  William  Moy  Thomas,  who  had  become  a  contributor  in  1851. 
He  was  on  the  staff  of  the  Athenaeum.  From  18(58— I'JOl  he  was  on  the  staff 
of  the  Daily  News,  for  a  great  part  of  the  time  as  dramatic  critic.  He 
dieil  in  1910,  aj,'ed  82. 

X  See  letter  of  December  10th,  1851. 

§  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  141,  as  part  of  a  letter  of 
August  7Mi,  185:5,  from  Boulogne. 

G    2 


84  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1852 

Eminent  Author. 
Women  in  blue  veils,  tiiming  out  at  6  a.m.  and 
waylaying  him  as  he  goes  to  the  Shower  Bath. 

Dover  Theatre. 


Open. 


Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


Hotel  des  Bains,  Boulogne, 

Tuesday,  Fifth  October,  1852. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  don't  intend  to  come  to  town 
as  long  as  I  remain  here.  I  thought  you  understood 
this  from  our  conversations  at  Dover.  I  am  curious 
to  see  Home's  MS.,  and  hope  it  will  come  out  well. 

I  observe  that  Tauchnitz's  bill  appears  to  be  due 
today.  I  enclose  it.  Will  you  pay  it  to  my  account 
at  Coutts's,  enquiring  whether  its  non-presentation 
today  affects  it,  and  explaining  how  it  is. 

Guild. 

I  would  certainly  proceed  according  to  Phillips's 
advice. 

If  you  got 's  account  from  Henry's  statement  or 

in  Henry's  writing,  don't  pay  it.  I  will  write  to  him 
myself  in  that  case,  assuming  that  it  is  an  unauthorized 
proceeding.  I  think  it  monstrous,  and  doubt  whether 
in  any  case  we  ought  to  pay  it  without  protest,  out  of 
money  that  is  not  ours.  Upon  my  word  I  do  not 
think  it  would  be  an  endurable  item  to  place  on  record 
in  the  accounts.  Conceive  twelve  men  doing  the  like. 
"  To  one  hundred  and  forty -four  lace  cravats,  and  72 
pairs  of  lace  ruffles,  £74.  8.  0.   Washing,  .£12. 12.  0." 

ft  t 


1852]  "A   DIGGER'S  DIARY."  85 

Weather. 
Very  stormy,  and  a  prodigious  sea  running. 

"  Bleak  House."* 
Just  begun. 

Remembrances  to  Mrs.  Wills  aud  you  from  my  two 
ladies. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Hotel  des  Bains,  Boulogne, 
Thursday,  Seventh  October,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  the  proof  of  the  No. 

Taboo  (for  the  present,  certainly)  the  Poem.  I 
think  it  very  bad. 

See  to  the  dashes  in  the  article  on  "  Epitaphs,  "f 
They  are  at  present  innumerable.  "  Graves  and 
Epitaphs  "  would  be  a  better  name. 

I  have  been  very  carefully  considering  the  question 
of  Home's  "  Diary.":{:  It  is  clear  to  me  that  nobody 
might,  could,  would  or  should  understand  what  it 
means,  if  we  were  to  print  this  portion  by  itself,  quite 
ignorant  of  what  is  to  follow  or  when  it  is  to  come. 
It  would  never  do  without  something — at  least  some- 
thing— of  the  "Voyage,"  either  in  the  same  Number 
or  in  the  following  one.  Therefore,  at  any  risk  of 
Hewitt's  MS.  making  its  appearance  in  print  some- 
where, hold  this  portion  back,  and  insert  "  Penny 
Wisdom  "  (which  is  very  interesting  and  good)  in  its 
stead. 

•  The  first  number  of  "  Bleak  House  "  had  appeared  in  the  previous  March. 
The  last  (a  double)  number  appesired  in  September,  1853. 

t  "  Graves  and  Epitaphs,"  by  Hannaj,  Ilouse/iold  Wordx,  Octoljer  16th. 

j  R.  H.  Home  had  gone  to  Australia  with  William  Howitt.  "A  Digger's 
Diary,"  by  Home,  began  in  Ihmitehold  Words,  January  2yth,  1853,  and 
continued  intermittently  through  that  year. 


86  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  whether  my  general  objection 
has  already  presented  itself  to  you  ? 

Morley's  (I  suppose)  resume  of  the  "Prairie"  book 
is  as  well  done  as  a  paper  of  that  kind  can  be.'"'  Quite 
a  model. 

The  "  Babbleton  Book  Club,"  very  weak.  A  kind 
of  imbecile  thing  that  seems  to  want  crutches. 

I  never  heard  of  such  a  business  altogether,  as  you 
unfold  in  that  Morton  case.  When  I  met  him 
in  Fleet  Street,  he  told  me  the  whole  story  of  the 
Duel :  I  know  the  murderer  too. 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 

Hotel  des  Bains,  BoulognEj 

Thursday  night.  Seventh  Oetoher,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  it  best,  in  case  of  any 
miscarriage,  to  advise  you  that  I  returned  the  proof 
of  the  next  No.  in  a  packet  by  steamboat  from  here 
to  Folkestone  this  afternoon. 

I  don't  quite  understand  from  your  letter  what 
Tauchnitz  wants  to  know.  Will  you  answer  him,  in 
English,  and  give  him  the  explanation  he  requires 
— for  me,  in  my  absence  ? 

"The  Shot  Tower  of  Waterloo  Bridge"  ought  to 
make  a  good  article.  The  Bridge  itself — bridges  of 
London  in  general — would  be  a  fine  subject  for  Sala, 
in  another  article.  If  the  Waterloo  Bridge  people 
would  give  us  a  little  information  about  the  change 
in  their  affairs  since  the  Eailroad — and  would  let  us 
lay  hold  of  one  of  their  Night  Toll-takers,  a  very 
fine  thing  might  perhaps  be  made  of  it.     I  wish  you 

*  "  I'icuics  in  the  Prairie,"  Ilowichuld  Words,  October  9th. 


1852]  POLITICAL   MEEKNESS.  87 

would  look  into  the  subject,  and  see  whether  it  will  do 
for  me,  before  you  lay  Sala  on.      Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Hotel  des  Bains,  Boulogne, 

Tuesday  Twelfth  October,  1852. 

H.  W, 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  No.  to  which  you  refer  in 
your  letter  of  yesterday's  date  received  this  morning, 
has  not  yet  reached  me.    I  will  go  over  it  when  it  comes. 

I  have  thought  of  the  Christmas  No.,  but  not  very 
successfully,  because  I  have  been  (and  still  am)  con- 
stantly occupied  with  "  Bleak  House."  I  purpose 
returning  home  either  on  Sunday  or  Monday,  as  my 
work  permits,  and  we  will,  immediately  thereafter, 
dine  at  the  office  and  talk  it  over — so  that  you  may 
get  all  the  men  to  their  work. 

The  fault  of  Prince's*  poem,  besides  its  intrinsic 
meanness  as  a  composition,  is,  that  it  goes  too  glibly 
with  the  comfortable  idea  (of  which  we  have  had  a 
great  deal  too  much  in  England  since  the  Continental 
commotions)  that  a  man  is  to  sit  down  and  make  him- 
self domestic  and  meek,  no  matter  what  is  done  to 
him.  It  wants  a  stronger  appeal  to  rulers  in  general 
to  let  men  do  this,  fairly,  by  governing  them  thoroughly 
well.  As  it  stands,  it  is  about  the  Tract  Mark 
(Dairyman's  daughter,  &c.)  of  political  morality. 
And  don't  think  that  it  is  necessary  to  write  down  to 
any  part  of  our  audience.  I  always  hold  that  to  be 
as  great  a  mistake  as  can  be  made, 

*  This  was,  probably,  John  Critchley  Prince  (1808— 18GG).  He  was  the 
son  of  a  Wigan  rced-makcr  for  weavers,  and  worked  for  some  time  with  his 
father.  Afterwards  he  kept  a  small  shop  in  Manchester.  In  1840  he 
published  his  first  volume  of  poems,  "  Hours  With  the  Muses."  Four  other 
books  can^e  from  his  pen. 


88  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

I  wish  you  would  mention  to  Thomas,*  that  I  think 
the  paper  on  "  Hops  "  extremely  ivell  done.'f  He  has 
quite  caught  the  tone  we  want,  and  caught  it  in  the 
best  way. 

In  pursuing  the  Bridge  subject,  I  think  it  would 
be  advisable  to  look  up  the  Thames  Police.  I 
have  a  misty  notion  of  some  capital  papers  coming  out 
of  it.  Will  you  see  to  this  branch  of  the  tree,  among 
the  other  branches. 

Guild. 

I  hope  Gye  didn't  let  you  have  Covent  Garden ; 
for  the  effect  of  our  Proscenium  within  that  one  would 
be  so  vehemently  ludicrous  that  I  think  Peek  would 
be  grinned  out  of  the  field  by  our  own  carpenters. 

Talking  of  whom,  I  am  quite  delighted  with  the 
idea  of  Sloman's  house. 

Myself. 

To  Chapman  I  will  write.  My  impression  is  that  I 
shall  not  subscribe  to  the  projected  Hood  monument,:): 
as  I  am  not  at  all  favourable  to  such  posthumous 
honours.  Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Hotel  des  Bains,  Boulogne, 

Wednesday  Niyht^  October  Thirteenth,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  No.  coming  in  after  dinner, 
since  my  letter  was  written  and  posted,  I  have  gone 
over  it. 

I  am  grievously  depressed  by  it ;  it  is  so  exceedingly 
bad.     If  you  have  anything  else  to  put  first,  don't  put 

*  Sec  Letter  of  August  12th,  1852,  and  note. 

f  Household  Words,  October  16th. 

j  He  did  not  subscribe  to  it ;  see  "  Letters,"  I.,  287. 


1852]  "SPORTING"   AMUSEMENTS.  89 

Sala's  paper  first.*  (There  is  nothing  better  for  a 
beginning  in  the  No.  as  it  stands,  but  this  is  very- 
bad).  It  is  a  mistake  to  think  of  it  as  a  first  article. 
The  article  itseK  is  in  the  main  a  mistake.  Firstly, 
the  subject  requires  the  greatest  discretion  and 
nicety  of  touch.  And  secondly,  it  is  all  wrong  and 
self-contradictory.  Nobody  can  for  a  moment  suppose 
that  "Sporting"  amusements  are  the  sports  of  the 
PEOPLE — the  whole  gist  of  the  best  part  of  the  descrip- 
tion is  to  show  that  they  are  the  amusements  of  a 
peculiar  and  limited  class.  The  greater  part  of  them 
are  at  a  miserable  discount  (horse-racing  excepted, 
which  has  already  been  sufficiently  done  in  H.  W.), 
and  there  is  no  reason  for  running  a-muck  at  them  at 
all.  I  have  endeavoured  to  remove  much  of  my 
objection  (and  I  think  have  done  so),  but,  both  in 
purpose  and  in  any  general  address,  it  is  as  wide  of 
a  first  article  as  anything  can  well  be.  It  would  do 
best  in  the  opening  of  the  No. 

About  "  Sunday  in  Paris  "  there  is  no  kind  of  doubt. 
Take  it  out.  Such  a  thing  as  that  "  Crucifixion," 
unless  it  were  done  in  a  masterly  manner,  we  have  no 
business  to  stagger  families  with.  Besides,  the  name 
is  a  comprehensive  one,  and  should  include  a 
quantity  of  fine  matter.  Lord  bless  me,  what  I  could 
write  under  that  head ! 

Strengthen  the  Number,  pray,  by  anything  good  you 
may  have.     It  is  a  very  dreary  business  as  it  stands. 

The  proofs  want  a  thorough  revision. 

In  haste,  going  to  bed. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

*  "  The  Sporting  World,"  House/told  Word*,  October  23rd.     It  appeared 
as  the  fourth  paper  in  the  number. 


90  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

I  returned  the  wretched   man's  letter — evidently 
mad — I  know  nothing  about  him. 

I  want  a  name  for  Miss  Martineau's  paper. 

"  Triumphant  Carriages  "  (or  Triumphal)*. 

"  Dublin  Stoutheartedness." 

"  Patience  and  Prejudice." 
Take  which  you  like  best. 

Tavistock  House, 

Third  November,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Forster  wants  the  book 
'^  Ecclesia,"  in  which  the  ballad  is,  sent  to  his  chambers 
for  him.  Of  course  he  makes  out  that  there  is  a  positive 
merit  in  having  made  the  blunder,  and  that  if  it  really 
had  been  the  old  ballad,  his  intention  would  have  rather 
failed  upon  the  whole.  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
assaulting  this  conclusion  between  the  eyes,  and 
knocking  it  over  heads  and  heels. f 

1  send  with  this,  the  sheet  of  "  Bleak  House"  paper. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Friday,  Fifth  Novcmher^  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Do  you  think  it  would  be  worth 
while  to  publish  the  enclosed,  with  an  alteration  here 

*  "  Triumphant  Carriaj^es,"  Ilumehold  Wordx,  October  23rd. 

+  In  Jlounehold  Words  of  October  30th  there  was  a  short  article  by 
Forster  ("  The  Reason  Why  ")  in  which  he  had  called  attention  to  the 
Trelawney  ballad  ("  And  shall  Trelawney  die,"  &c.),  and  had  quoted  it 
in  extenm  as  a  genuine  old  ballad.  As  a  matter  of  fact  only  three  lines  are 
old.  The  rest  was  written  by  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Hawker,  Vicar  of  Morwenstow, 
in  Cornwall,  as  he  himself  said,  "  after  much  fruitless  endeavour  to  recover 
the  old  song,  but  without  the  slightest  success."  He  hatl  heard  the  three 
lines  as  "a  chonal  fragment  current  in  Cornwall"  in  1824.  Mr.  Hawker 
wrote  to  explain  this,  and  Forster,  in  a  "Chip"  in  Household,  Words  of 
November  20th,  admitted  (with  some  qualification)  his  mistake.l  "  Ecclesia  " 
was  a  volume  of  poems  by  Mr.  Hawker,  published  in  1840. 


1852]  SPIRIT   RAPPING.  91 

and  there,  in  next  Wednesday  week's  Number — 
so  as  just  to  catch  the  Funeral  ?  *  I  hate  the  thing 
myself,  but  it  might  go  down  with  a  good  many.  I 
can't  quite  decide.  "What  do  you  think  ?  Let  me 
know,  and  let  me  have  the  MS.  back,  in  the  course  of 
this  morning.     The  sooner,  the  better. 

Further,  let  me  see  the  proof  of  the  No.  we  did 
last  night,  before  it  goes  to  press.  I  have  a  misgiving 
that  I  altered  a  word  in  Morley's  paper,  which  I 
intended  to  re-alter,  but  did  not. 

In  the  matter  of  the  rappings,  I  think  a  good  name 
for  the  paper  would  be  "  The  Ghost  of  the  Cock  Lane 
Ghost."t  If  Morley  looks  to  that  precious  business, 
in  the  Annual  Eegister,  he  will  find  (if  I  understand 
your  account)  that  the  two  spirits  are  greatly  alike. 
I  was  thinking  that 

"  Spirits  Far  Above  Proof  " 
would  be  a  good  title.     But  it  is  a  great  thing  in 
such  a  case  to  shew  that  the  imposition  is  an  old  and 
exploded  one. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


[The  following  letter  is  undated,  but  it  must  be  later 
than  the  preceding  letter  of  November  5th,  because  in 
that  letter  "  The  Deeds  of  Wellington  "  is  spoken  of 
as  being  in  MS.  whereas  in  this  letter  it  is  mentioned 
as  being  in  "  slip  "  proof.] 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  were  to  have  sent  me 
the   rapping  advertisement,  and    have  forgotten    it. 

•  The  funeral  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  A  long  piece  of  verse  entitled 
"  The  Deeds  of  Wellington"  appeared  in  Household  Words,  November  20th. 
In  tlie  Office  Book  the  author's  name  is  entered  as  "  Bennett  (Cheapside)," 
no  doubt  W.  C.  Bennett. 

t  By  Henry  Morley,  in  the  issue  of  November  20th. 


92  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

Therefore  you  must  go  over  the  enclosed  slip  carefully, 
before  you  return  it  to  the  Printers,  and  fill  in  such 
blanks  as  I  have  indicated  in  my  alterations  on  the 
margin.  I  will  go  through  the  No.  tonight  at  7, 
either  here  or  at  the  office  as  you  prefer — or  if  you 
will  dine  here  at  J  past  6,  better  still,  and  we  will 
do  it  after  dinner.     Let  me  know. 

Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 

I  have  just  got  the  enclosed  from  Lord  Normanby's 
brother  at  Florence.  There  is  not  much  in  it,  but 
the  subject  —  the  Bible  prisoners,  man  and  wife — 
attracts  so  much  attention  just  now,  that  I  think  it 
worth  a  push  to  get  it  into  this  Number.* 

Will  you  send  the  enclosed  slip  of  *'  The  Deeds  of 
Wellington  "  to  Mr.  Bennett,  65,  Cheapside,  saying 
that  I  have  not  time  to  write  to  suggest  any  slight 
alterations,  but  will  he  correct  and  return  it,  and  if  he 
should  observe  a  line  halting  anywhere,  make  it  bolder 
if  he  can. 


[This  letter,  to  which  Wills  has  prefixed  the  note 
"  A  curiosity  from  him.  No  date,  no  signature,"  is 
printed  in  "  Letters,"  I.,  299,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
1853  letters.  I  place  it  among  the  1852  letters 
because  there  is  a  story  by  Miss  Martineau,  "  The 
Deaf  Playmate's  Story,"  in  the  Christmas  number  of 
that  year,  and  there  is  none  by  her  in  the  Christmas 
number  of  1853.] 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  don't  think  there's  enough  in 
Thomas's  story. 

*  "An  Interview  with  the  Madiai,"  Household  Words,  November  20th. 
Francesco  and  Kosa  Macliai  were  impriboned  in  Tuscany  for  possessing  a  Bible. 


1852]  A  MIND   ON   SPIKES.  93 

Miss  Craik's  *  (an  improvement)  will  do  perfectly 
for  one  of  our  ordinary  Nos.  We  won't  put  it  in  the 
Xmas  'No.  if  we  can  get  a  better.  Her  imitation  of 
me  is  too  glaring — I  never  saw  anything  so  curious. 
She  takes  the  very  words  in  which  Esther  [Summerson] 
speaks,  without  seeming  to  laiow  it. 

I  have  not  a  shadow  of  a  doubt  about  Miss 
Martineau's  story.  It  is  certain  to  tell.  I  think  it 
very  affecting — admirably  done — a  fine  plain  purpose 
in  it — quite  a  singular  novelty.  For  the  last  story  in 
the  Xmas  No.  it  will  be  great.  I  couldn't  wish  for  a 
better. 

Mrs.  Gaskell's  ghost  story,  I  have  got  this 
morning — have  not  yet  read.     It  is  long. 

OFFICE  OF    HOUSEHOLD    WORDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Christmas  Eve,  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  carefully  through 
the  Number — an  awful  one  for  the  amount  of  correction 
required — and  have  made  everything  right.  If  my 
mind  could  have  been  materialised,  and  drawn  along 
the  tops  of  all  the  spikes  on  the  outside  of  the  Queen's 
Bench  prison,  it  could  not  have  been  more  agonized 

than   by ;  which    for    imbecility,    carelessness, 

slovenly  composition,  relatives  without  antecedents, 
universal  chaos,  and  one  absorbing  whirlpool  of  jolter- 
headedness,  beats  anything  in  print  and  paper  I  have 
ever  "  gone  at "  in  my  life. 

I  shall    come   and   see   how    you   are    tomon'ow. 

*  "  Rerthalde  Reimer's  Voice,"  by  Miss  Gcorgiana  M.  Craik,  appeared  in 
Household  Words,  February  12th,  1853. 


94  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1852 

Meantime  everything  is  in  perfect  trim  in  these  parts, 
and  I  have  sent  down  to  Stacey  to  come  here  and  top 
up  with  a  final  interview  before  I  go. 

Just  after  I  had  sent  the  Messenger  off  to  you 
yesterday  concerning  the  toll-taker  Memoranda,  the 
other  idea  came  into  my  head — and,  in  the  most 
obliging  manner,  came  out  of  it. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

C.  D. 

Here  is  Mark  perpetually  flitting  about  Brydges 
Street  and  hovering  in  the  neighbourhood — with  a 
veil  of  secresy  drawn  down  over  his  chin,  so  ludicrously 
transparent,  that  I  can't  help  laughing  while  he  looks 
at  me. 

Tavistock  House, 

Wednesday,  Twenty -ninth  December  j  1852. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  evident  that  Home  (not- 
withstanding his  outfit  of  tent,  cart,  and  what  not) 
has  abandoned  the  Digging  idea,  and  already  begun 
to  live  upon  the  reserved  Fund  sent  out  to  insure  his 
capability  of  return.  I  am  afraid  this  looks  un- 
promising. 

One  of  his  poems  very  indifferent.  The  other  (a 
Christmas  piece)  must  of  course  stand  over  now. 

I  am  concerned  to  see  that  he  supposes  the  arrange- 
ment with  Mrs.  Hornc  never  to  have  been  discontinued. 
I  think  it  would  be  best  if  you  would  send  for  her 
and  see  her  on  the  subject ;  seriously  representing  to 
her  that  her  secresy  and  reserve  have  rendered  it 
impossible  for  either  you  or  me  to  approach  the 
question,  or  at  all  to  divine  what  has  been  in  her 
mind  respecting  it.  I  have  not  the  least  objection  to 
your  saying  this  as  strongly  as  you  like,  and  repre- 


1852]  MANY   OCCUPATrONS.  95 

senting  to  her  that  you  know  you  express  my  opinion. 
The  arrangement  I  suppose  must  be  resumed.  She  is 
staying  with  Miss  Gillies  at  Highgate  and  was  here 
the  day  before  yesterday.  If  it  will  give  you  no 
inconvenience  to  see  her, — don't  delay.  She  may 
otherwise  write  to  Home  with  the  matter  in  abeyance, 
and  involve  us  in  the  Devil's  own  confusion — (Here  I 
fall  upon  my  knees,  and  ask  your  fair  Secretary's 
pardon  for  my  intemperate  language). 

I  was  obliged  to  go  yesterday,  to  an  Annual  one 
o'clock  dinner  to  poor  people,  given  by  Miss  Coutts, 
which  detained  me  later  than  I  expected  and  prevented 
my  calling  on  you.  Today  I  have  to  get  to  work  on 
the  Child's  History,  and  afterwards  to  go  to  Shepherd's 
Bush,  and  after  that  to  preside  at  the  dinner  which 
you  ought  to  assist  at.  The  whole  of  the  perform- 
ances to  conclude  with  a  whitlow  on  my  right 
forefinger,  which  makes  it  difficult  for  me  to  write,  to 
dress  myself,  to  brush  my  hair,  take  my  bath,  shake 
hands  with  anybody,  or  do  anything. 

I  number  all  the  papers  I  send,  to  prevent  you 
falling  into  pits  of  confusion. 

No.  1  is  from  one  Caudle — to  whom  I  have  a  dim 
idea  that  we  gave  some  money  for  Emigration 
purposes.  The  two  papers  (newspapers)  along  with 
it,  are,  I  suppose,  the  papers  to  which  he  refers. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  done  on  that  head,  as  I  take  it. 

No.  2  are  Murray's  hints.*  I  see  no  objection  to 
using  chapter  5  as  final  Hints,  and  not  using  chapter  4 
at  all.  Please  to  observe  that  these  chapter  numerals 
belong  to  his  MSS.,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  my 
present  indexing  for  your  clearer  understanding. 

*  "The  Roving  Englishman,"  by  Grenville   Murray,  was  appearing  in 
Umisehold  Wordn. 


96  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1852 

No.  3  is  a  letter,  referring  (I  suppose)  to  the  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  thousandth  Colonial  ass  who 
wanted  us  to  print  in  H.  W.  some  saw-dusty  Literature 
out  of  the  Fort- Something  Journal.  You  may  recollect 
the  case.  It  is  needless  for  me  to  see  the  man  who 
writes.     So  I  hand  him  over  to  you. 

I  don't  think  I  can  finish  the  *'  Child's  History  "  in 
one  morning,  for  I  have  got  my  favourite  ruffian  Henry 
the  Eighth  to  deal  with.  Will  you  let  me  know,  by 
John,  your  proposed  Make-Up  for  the  next  Ko.  I 
don't  see,  among  my  proofs,  any  good  first  article. 
''  Child's  Play  "  is  the  smallest  beer  I  ever  saw  brewed 
from  such  strong  materials.  Don't  leave  out  the 
"  Dirty  Old  Man."  *     He  is  capital. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1853. 

During  a  great  part  of  this  year  Dickens  was  at 
work  on  "  Bleak  House,"  which  was  published  in 
book-form  in  September.  It  is  curious  to  note  that, 
in  spite  of  Harold  Skimpole,  Leigh  Hunt  was  a 
contributor  to  Household  Words^  both  this  year  and 
last  (see  the  letters  of  August  6th  and  7th  this 
year).  The  titles  of  his  articles  were  "  Kilspindie," 
September  4th,  1852  (a  poem) ;  ^'  The  Trumpets  of 
Doolkarnein,"  September  18th,  1852  (a  poem); 
"Lounging  Through  Kensington,"  August  6th,  1853, 
August  20th,  1853;  ''Kensington,"  September  3rd, 
1853;  "  Kensington  Church,"  November  19th,  1853  ; 
and  "  Kensington  Worthies,"  December  3rd,  1863. 

*  Ilmte.hold  Words,  January  8th,  1853,  by  William  Allingham,  the  poet 
(1824 — 1889).  He  was  a  friend  of  Dickens  and  frequently  contributed  to 
Household  Words.  A  volume  of  letters  addressed  him  by  Dickens  and 
many  others  has  recently  been  published. 


HfA^H.  -h^atIijyt/i.fiJio€cyr^J\^j 


■^^^ATuIh^rpK 


<^^t^L^    . 


1853]  WILKIE  COLLINS.  97 

In  the  spring  Dickens  was  at  1,  Junction  Parade, 
Brighton ;  and  in  the  summer  he  established  himself 
at  lioulogne,  at  the  Villa  des  Moulineaux,  his  landlord 
being  M.  Beaucourt,  for  whom  he  conceived  a  warm 
regard.  Here  he  dictated  parts  of  the  "  Child's 
History  of  England,"  the  conclusion  of  which  appeared 
in  Household  Words  of  December  10th.  It  began 
in  the  number  of  January  25th,  1851. 

In  September  Dickens  started  with  Augustus  Egg, 
A.E.A.,  and  Wilkie  Collins  on  a  tour  through 
Switzerland  and  Italy,  returning  to  Tavistock  House 
in  December.  I  can  find  no  letters  written  by 
Dickens  to  Wills  during  this  tour.  A  long  letter 
from  Florence,  dated  November  21st  and  printed  in 
"  Letters,"  I.,  334,  is  lost.  From  October  15th  to 
December  24th  there  are  no  contributions  by  Dickens 
to  Household  Words  except  the  instalments  of  the 
"  Child's  History  of  England." 

This  year  saw  the  addition  of  Wilkie  Collins  to  the 
list  of  contributors  to  Household  Words.  His  story, 
"  Gabriel's  Marriage,"  appeared  in  the  numbers  of 
April  16tli  and  23rd.  In  the  previous  year  he  had 
taken  part  in  the  provincial  theatrical  tour  on  behalf 
of  the  "  Guild,"  and  thenceforth  he  became  one  of 
Dickens's  best  friends  and,  eventually,  his  most 
intimate  fellow  worker.  He  died  in  1889  in  his  6Gth 
year. 


OFFICE  OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS. 
A  Weekhj  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Kg.  16,  Wellington  Stkeet  North,  Strand, 

Tuesdmj,  Eighth  February j  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  the  best  way  will  be 
for  you  to  make  an  appointment  with  Collins,  and  talk 
to  him  on  the  subject  of  the  enclosed.     I  don't  quite 

D.E.  H 


98  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

understand  from  his  letter  that  you  explained  to  him 
that  I  doubt  the  subject  of  hereditary  insanity — not 
with  an  eye  to  the  feelings  of  the  public  in  general, 
but  with  a  consideration  for  those  numerous  families 
in  which  there  is  such  a  taint.  The  force  of  my 
objection  lies  in  that  range  of  the  subject  only. 

On  the  whole  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  it  will  be 
best  to  accept  his  offer  of  a  new  story  instead.  And  it 
is  desirable  to  explain  to  him  that  a  story  within  a 
story — as  this  is — is  complicated  and  difficult  for  our 
peculiar  purpose. 

I  think  there  are  many  things,  both  in  the  inventive 
and  descriptive  way,  that  he  could  do  for  us  if  he 
would  like  to  work  in  our  direction.  And  I  particu- 
larly wish  him  to  understand  this,  and  to  have  every 
possible  assurance  conveyed  to  him  that  I  think  so, 
and  that  I  should  particularly  like  to  have  his  aid. 
See  if  he  cannot  strike  out  one  or  two  subjects  while 
with  you,  to  begin  upon. 

Will  you  give  Mr.  Brownlow  a  call  one  day 
when  you  are  near  there?  Seeing  in  the  enclosed 
card  that  he  was  interested  in  a  child's  election  for 
the  St.  Ann's  Schools,  I  got  Miss  Coutts's  votes — 
also  enclosed.  But  I  can't  find  the  child's  name  in 
the  List,  and  consequently  can't  set  a  No.  against 
his  name. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Thursday  Night j  Seventeenth  February j  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  over  the  proofs 
and  made  the  best  of  the  names.  I  don't  like 
Forster's  paper  to  lead  off  with,  but  don't  think  Sala's 


1858]  PET   PRISONERS.  99 

better.*  Also  I  am  restless  about  Hobson  and  doubt 
the  expediency  of  going  back  to  so  poor  a  thing — as, 
if  I  had  a  weak  leg,  or  a  game  eye,  I  don't  think  I 
would  call  attention  to  it.  But  I  leave  Hobson,  not 
to  confuse  the  Proof.  There  are  awful  baitings  in 
the  Poem,  but  I  have  made  the  best  of  it. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 


[The  following  letter  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III., 
137  (wrongly  dated  4th  March,  1853),  but  a  para- 
graph from  a  letter  of  12th  August,  1852,  has  there 
been  substituted  for  the  first  two  paragraphs.] 

1,  Junction  Parade,  Brighton, 

Thursday  Night,  Tenth  March,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  through  this  No. 
carefully  (as  you  will  see,  on  looking  through  my 
marks — I  have  been  obliged  to  query  twice  or  thrice, 
really  not  understanding  what  is  meant)  and  am  quite 
out  of  heart  with  it. 

Sala,  very  poor.  One  of  the  noblest  subjects  that 
can  be  written  on,  with  really  notluDg  in  its  treatment. 
Quite  above  him. 

"  A  Doctor  of  Morals,"  impossible  of  insertion  as  it 
stands.  A  mere  puff  for  Hill,  with  all  the  difficult 
parts  of  the  question  blinked,  and  many  statements 
utterly  at  variance  with  what  I  am  known  to  have 
written.  It  is  exactly  because  the  great  bulk  of 
offences  in  a  great  number  of  places  are  committed 

*  The  rcferoncc  probiibly  was  to  proofs  of  the  nnnibcr  for  March  5th,  in 
which  Forster's  " Suveiity-eight  Years  Ago"  was  the  first  article.  Sahi 
contributed  "  The  Last  Crusade,"  and  there  was  a  poem  by  "  Miss  Berwick  " 
(Adelaide  I'rocter).     There  is  uo  trace  of  Hobson. 

H    2 


100  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

by  professed  thieves,  that  it  will  not  do  to  have  Pet 
Prisoning  advocated,*  without  grave  remonstrance 
and  great  care.  That  class  of  prisoner  is  not  to  be 
reformed.  We  must  begin  at  the  beginning  and 
prevent  by  stringent  education  and  supervision  of 
wicked  parents,  that  class  of  prisoner  from  being 
regularly  supplied  as  if  he  were  a  human  necessity. 

Do  they  teach  trades  in  workhouses,  and  try  to  fit 
their  people  (the  worst  part  of  them)  for  Society  ? 
Come  with  me  to  Tothill  Fields,  Bridewell,  or  to 
Shepherd's  Bush,  and  I  will  show  you  what  a  work- 
house girl  is.  Or  look  to  my  "  Walk  in  a  Work- 
house" (in  H.  IF.t)  and  to  the  glance  at  the  youths 
I  saw  in  one  place,  positively  kept  like  wolves. 

Mr.  Hill  thinks  prisons  could  be  made  nearly  self- 
supporting.  Have  you  any  idea  of  the  difficulty  that 
is  found  in  disposing  of  Prison- Work  ?  Or  does  he 
know  that  the  Treadmills  didn't  grind  the  air  because 
the  State  or  the  Magistracy  objected  to  the  competition 
of  prison  labour  with  free  labour,  but  because  the 
work  could  not  he  got  ? 

I  never  can  have  any  kind  of  prison  discipline 
disquisition  in  H.  W.  that  does  not  start  with  the 
first  great  principle  I  have  laid  down,  and  that  does 
not  protest  against  prisons  being  considered  per  se. 
Whatever  chance  is  given  to  a  man  in  a  prison,  must 
be  given  to  a  man  in  a  refuge  for  distress. 

The  article  in  itself  is  very  good,  but  it  must  have 
these  points  in  it ;  otherwise  I  am  not  only  compro- 
mising opinions  I  am  known  to  hold,  but  the  journal 
itself  is  blowing  hot  and  cold  and  playing  fast  and 
loose,  in  a  ridiculous  way. 

*  "  Pet  Prisoners,"  by  Dickens,  Himxehold  Words,  April  27th,  1850. 
t  Iloiuehold  Wprds,  May  25tb,  1850. 


1853]  "ONE  AND   INDIVISIBLE:"  101 

That  heap  of  chips  is  quite  out  of  the  question. 
*'  Vegetable  Miracles  "  had  better  be  made  a  separate 
article,  and  called  "  Receipt  of  Fern  Seed  " — which  is  a 
phrase  of  Falstafi's. 

The  Australian  article  had  better  be  called,  I  think, 
"  Lost  and  Found  at  the  Gold  Diggings."  It,  too,  is 
very  poor. 

As  to  "  La  Galite,"*  it  looks  like  a  wretched  trans- 
lation from  a  wretched  original,  and  I  can  say  no 
more  of  it.  But  observe  the  horrible  in  judiciousness 
of  leaving  in  it,  at  page  89,  that  reference  to  the 
Slave  Dealer,  after  all  the  howling  there  has  been 
about  that  infernal  African  who  could  wear  his  chains 
in  peace — and  be  damned  to  him. 

Starting  a  paper  in  India  is  very  droll — -to  us. 
But  it  is  full  of  references  that  the  public  don't 
understand,  and  don't  in  the  least  care  for.  Bour- 
geois, brevier,  minion,  and  nonpareil,  long  primer, 
turn-ups,  dummy  advertisements  and  reprints,  back 
form,  imposing  stone,  and  locking  up,  are  all  quite 
out  of  their  way  and  a  sort  of  slang  that  they  have 
no  interest  in. 

Let  me  see  a  revise  when  you  have  got  it  together, 
and  if  you  can  strengthen  it — do.  I  mention  all  the 
objections  that  occur  to  me  as  I  go  on — not  because 
you  can  obviate  them  (except  in  the  case  of  the 
Prison  paper)  but  because  if  I  make  a  point  of 
doing  so  always,  you  will  feel  and  judge  the 
more  readily  both  for  yourself  and  me  too,  at  the 
same  time,  "  one  and  indivisible,"  when  I  take  an 
Italian  flight. 

•  "  Hermit  Island,"  Household  Words,  March  26th.  The  writer  was 
W.  Hepworth  Dixon,  a  fairly  regular  contributor  to  the  paper.  From  1853 
to  1801)  he  was  editor  of  the  Athouieum.  He  wrote  "  Spiritual  Wives,"  "  Her 
Majesty's  Tuwer,"  and  many  other  books.     He  died  in  1871). 


102  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

You. 
How  are  the  a/cs  getting  on  ? 

Me. 

I  have  been  at  work  all  day. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 
Tavistock  House, 

Friday,  Eighteenth  March,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — When  I  came  home  last  night, 
I  found  the  enclosed  from  Brockedon  on  the  ' '  India 
Eubber  "  article. 

It  must  be  closely  enquired  into,  and  I  should 
wish  to  have,  separately,  whatever  Mr.  Dodd  may 
have  to  say  on  each  head  in  which  the  fact  is  stated 
to  be  distinctly  against  him.  Because  if  it  should 
turn  out — which  it  may  not — that  he  has  again  com- 
mitted and  misled  us,  immediately  after  the  "  Gold 
and  Silver  Diets,"*  it  is  quite  clear  it  won't  do.  Nothing 
can  be  so  damaging  to  Household  Words  as  carelessness 
about  facts.     It  is  as  hideous  as  dulness. 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 
Boulogne, 

Monday,  Thirteenth  June,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  be  glad,  I  know,  to 
hear  that  we  had  a  delightful  passage  yesterday,  and 
that  I  made  a  perfect  phenomenon  of  a  dinner.  It  is 
raining  hard  to-day,  and  my  back  feels  the  damp ; 
but  I  am  otherwise  still  mending. 

I  have  signed,  sealed,  and  delivered,  a  contract  for 
a  house  (once  occupied  for  two  years  by  a  man  I 
knew  in  Switzerland),  which  is  not  a  large  one,  but 

*  ILmse/wld  Words,   March  5th,  1853. 


1853]  CHATEAU   DES  MOULTNEAUX.  103 

stands  in  the  midst  of  a  great  garden,  with  what  the 
landlord  calls  a  "forest"  at  the  back;  and  is  now 
surrounded  by  flowers,  vegetables,  and  all  manner  of 
growth.  A  queer,  odd,  French  place — but  extremely- 
well  supplied  with  all  table  and  other  conveniences, 
and  strongly  recommended.     The  address  is 

Chateau  des  Moulineaux, 
Rue  Beaurepaire, 

Boulogne. 

There  is  a  coach-house,  stabling  for  half  a  dozen 
horses,  and  I  don't  know  what. 

We  take  possession  this  afternoon,  and  are  now 
laying  in  a  good  stock  of  creature-comforts.  So  no 
more  at  present  from 

Yours  ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Mrs.  Dickens  and  her  sister  unite  in  kindest 
regards. 

Chateau  des  Moulineaux,  Boulogne, 

Saturdmj  Night,  Eighteenth  June,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  over  the  No.  and 
now  return  it.  "Thomas,"  very  well — but  might 
have  been  a  little  more  picturesque.  Costello 
good  enough  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  it  don't  go  to  the 
Camp,  and  therefore  is  at  present  a  coup  manque.  If 
you  put  Forster  in  his  place,  call  it  "The  Power- 
Loom."*  If  you  have  a  tolerably  lively  process 
article,  it  would  be  better  than  "  Country  News." 
Look  well  to  that  portion  yet  to  come  of  Sala's, 
which  I  have  not  got. 

*  Household  Words,  July  9th. 


104  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

"  Bleak  House." 

Thank  God  I  have  done  half  the  No.  with  great 
ease,  and  hope  to  finish  on  Thursday  or  Friday  next. 

0  how  thankful  I  feel  to  be  able  to  have  done  it,  and 
what  a  relief  to  get  the  No.  out ! 

Money. 
I  enclose  a  cheque  for  £20. 

General  Movements  of  Inimitable. 

I  don^t  think  (I  am  not  sure)  I  shall  come  to  London 
until  after  the  completion  of  "Bleak  House"  No.  18 — 
the  No.  after  this  now  in  hand — for  it  strikes  me  that 

1  am  better  here  at  present.  I  have  picked  up  in  the 
most  extraordinary  manner,  and  I  believe  you  would 
never  suppose  to  look  at  me  that  I  had  had  that  week 
or  half  an  hour  of  it.  If  there  should  be  any  occasion 
for  our  meeting  in  the  meantime,  a  run  over  here 
would  do  you  no  harm,  and  we  should  be  deliglited  to 
see  you  at  any  time.  If  you  suppose  this  place  to  be 
in  a  street,  you  are  hugely  mistaken.  It  is  in  the 
country,  though  not  more  than  ten  minutes'  walk 
from  the  Post  Office,  and  is  the  best  doll's  house  of 
many  rooms  in  the  prettiest  French  grounds  and  the 
most  charming  situation  I  have  ever  seen — the  best 
place  I  have  ever  lived  in,  abroad,  except  at  Genoa. 
You  can  scarcely  imagine  the  beauty  of  the  air  on 
this  richly  wooded  hill  side.  As  to  comforts  in  the 
house,  there  are  all  sorts  of  things,  beginning  with  no 
end  of  the  coldest  water  and  running  through  the 
most  beautiful  flowers  down  to  English  footbaths 
and  a  Parisian  liqueur-stand.  Your  parcel  (frantic 
enclosures  and  all)  arrived  quite  safely  last  night. 
This    will    leave    by    steamer    to-morrow,    Sunday, 


1853]  UNDER  GOLDEN   DOMES.  105 

evening.  There  is  a  boat  in  the  morning,  but 
having  no  one  to  send  to-night  1  can't  reach  it; 
and  to-morrow  being  Sunday  it  will  come  to  much 
the  same  thing. 

I  think  that's  all  at  present. 

Ever,  my  Dear  "Wills, 

Faithfully  youi'S, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Monday  J  Twenty-seventh  June,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  was  no  letter  from  you 
in  the  parcel  that  came  last  night  with  the  enclosed. 
That  was  all  right,  I  suppose  ? 

I  have  made  various  marks  here.  The  Poem  is 
so  very  poor,  that  it  had  better  come  out  bodily 
until  we  have  a  very  strong  number.  The  metre  is 
so  wi'etchedly  made  out. 

"  Pull  at  the  Pagoda  Tree,"*  very  good.  "  Pro- 
visionally Registered,"*  very  good.  It  is  rather 
unfortunate  that  we  have  so  many  foreign  subjects, 
but  it  can't  be  helped  I  suppose.  If  we  have  never 
had  Cause  and  Effect,  I  think  it  a  better  title  for 
the  Carlsruhe  story.  "  St.  Vorax's  Singing  Birds  "* 
will  stand  over.     With  a  chip,  you  won't  want  it.f 

I  am  sorry  that  a  corrected  proof  I  ouce  gave  you 
of  young  Jerrold's  "  Two  Gentlemen  "  has  been  mislaid. 
I  recollect  it,  and  my  corrections,  perfectly,  by  one 
stupendous  absurdity  that  stands  in  the  paper  as  it  is. 
I  wish  you  would  tell  me  in  what  part  of  the  town  or 
country  you  know  gentlemen  of  the  present  day  to 
live  under  "  Golden  Domes."     Because  it  is  new  to 

*  Wills  was  pai't  author  of  all  these  articles. 

t  Tlie  references  are  to  articles  which  appeared  in  Ifouschold  Words  of 
July  yth. 


106  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

me,  and  I  think  a  description  of  these  Mansions  might 
make  a  good  paper. 

I  will  send  you  the  "  History  of  England  "  in  good 
time  for  the  next  No.  and  will  afterwards  write  another 
paper  if  I  can  think  of  a  subject.  I  will  then  refer  to 
the  letters  you  sent  me  yesterday,  which  I  have  not 
time  to  do  this  morning.     Will  you  post  the  enclosed. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

It  has  been  blowing  so  hard  here,  that  I  am  going 
down  to  look  at  the  sea — with  the  intention  of 
stopping  the  children  at  Folkestone  by  telegraphic 
message  if  feasible. 

Boulogne, 

Monday,  Fourth  July,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — This  No.  will  require  a  good 
deal  of  alteration. 

In  the  first  place,  Morley  must  go  first,  beyond  all 
question.  In  the  second  place,  Morley  and  Sala 
should  by  no  manner  of  means  go  together.  In  the 
third  place  the  "  Roving  Englishman "  must  come 
out  bodily ;  since  apart  from  the  slovenliness  of  the 
article,  some  of  the  statements  are  much  too  strong 
for  me  to  commit  myself  to  without  a  positive  know- 
ledge of  the  facts.  Lastly,  I  think  you  have  too 
much  "  History  of  England  "  at  one  time,  and  would  do 
better  to  print  one  chapter  in  this  No.  and  one  after  a 
week's  interval. 

Be  very  careful  what  you  fill  up  with.  And  also, 
if  you  please,  to  revise  the  revise  of  the  "  Child's 
History  " — taking  care  that  it  is  pointed /or  sense. 

How  two  men  can  have  gone,  one  after  the  other, 
to  the  camp,  and  have  written  nothing  about  it,  passes 


18r)3]  WOMAN  AND   DEFENCE.  107 

my  comprehension.  T  have  been  in  great  doubt  about 
the  end  of  Sala.  I  wish  you  would  suggest  to  him 
from  me,  when  you  see  him,  how  wrong  it  is.  Surely 
he  cannot  be  insensible  to  the  fact  that  military  pre- 
paration in  England  at  this  time  means  Defence. 
Woman,  says  Sala,  means  Home,  love,  children, 
mother.  Does  he  not  find  any  protection  of  these 
things  in  a  wise  and  moderate  means  of  Defence ;  and 
is  not  the  union  between  these  things  and  those  means 
one  of  the  most  natural,  significant,  and  plain  in  the 
world.* 

Mrs.  Dickens  and  her  sister  have  gone  to  look  after 
Peter,"]"  while  I  prepare  my  parcel. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Pray  get  something  done  in  notice  of  the  enclosed. 
I  have  forgotten  it  this  long  time. 

Boulogne, 
Sunday,  Seventeenth  J^dy,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  find  a  great  many 
corrections  of  mine  in  the  enclosed  proof.:}: 

Nothing  can  improve  the  design  of  Miss  Lynn's 
story  II  (which  I  think  very  bad),  but  I  have  altered 
the  wording  of  it,  to  avoid  its  looking,  as  it  did, 
exactly  like  an  indifferent  translation.  Unless  you 
have  promised  anyone  to  put  in  that  letter  of  Charles 
the  First,  leave  it  out. 

*  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  1 10  (together  with  other 
matter  wrongly  dated),  under  date  Sunday,  August  7th,  1853. 

t  Peter  Cunniiigliam  (1810 — 18(59).  For  an  account  of  him,  see  •'  Life,"  IIL, 
52,  5H. 

X  The  proof  of  the  number  for  July  30th. 

II  "  Marie's  Fever,"  Jlimsehold  Words,  July  30th.  Miss  Lynn  contributed 
a  great  ileal  to  Jlousehold  Words.  In  1858  she  married  William  James 
Linton,  the  wood-engraver,  and  afterwards  became  widely  known,  as  Mrs. 
Lynn-Linton,  for  her  novels  and  her  satirical  articles  on  certain  nKHlern 
tendencies,  c.ij.,  her  "Girl  of  the  I'eriod  "  articles  iii  the  Suturday  Itcvicw. 


108  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

See  that  your  corrections  are  all  attended  to. 

You  say  you  have  a  stronger  Poem.  If  so,  and 
you  can  get  it  into  this  No.  instead  of  the  Sonnet,  it 
will  be  a  decided  improvement.  "  Marie's  Fever  "  is 
so  twaddly  that  I  should  like  to  see  something 
stronger  in  the  place  of  a  "  Literary  Lady's  Maid." 
The  No.  becomes  horribly  weak  in  that  place. 

Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  hand  the  enclosed  yourself 
to  the  little  bright  red  round  man  in  the  inner  room 
at  Coutts's.  I  generally  hand  them  the  Paymaster 
General's  Draft  for  Poole's  quarterly  pension,  but,  as 
it  is  payable  to  me^  I  cannot  receive  it  until  I  come 
to  town.     Therefore  I  had  best  advance  the  money. 

I  will  probably  write  you  on  one  or  two  other  small 
matters  tomorrow. 

Look  at  the  enclosed  from  Hunt.  I  declare  I  don't 
know  what  to  say,  and  have  not  answered  it !  Can 
you  devise  any  means  of  getting  out  of  the  matter 
"privately  and  confidentially  "  ? 

The  22nd  of  August  will  suit  us  perfectly ;  but  you 
had  better  come  on  the  Saturday  or  Sunday  previous, 
in  case  the  passage  should  be  queer.  And  we  hope 
you  will  both  be  able  to  stay  longer  than  a  week. 

Leech  *  and  Mrs.  Leech  arrived  here  yesterday 
eveniDg  in  a  Devil  of  a  gale.  Everybody  ill — doctors 
called  in  upon  the  boat  (but  not  for  them,  I  am  glad 
to  say) — and  a  most  miserable  scene  altogether. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

"  Lounging  through  Kensington  " 
is  the  best  name,  I  think,  for  that  paper,  f 

*  John  Leech,  the  Punch  artist. 

t  By  Leigh  Hunt,  Household  Words:,  August  Cth  and  20th,  1853. 


1853]  JOHN   FOBSTER'S   HEALTH.  109 

Boulogne, 

Monday,  July  Twenty-ffth,  1853. 

H.  W, 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  received  your  parcel  last 
night  and  return  the  proof  *  by  this  afternoon's  boat, 
"with  a  good  many  corrections  in  it.  Sala's  article  is 
so  badly  printed  that  I  have  been  obliged  to  put  a 
query  here  and  there,  really  not  understanding  what 
is  meant. 

If  I  can  write  an  article  this  week,  I  will.  But  I 
am  so  full  of  the  close  of  "  Bleak  House  "  that  I  can't, 
for  the  life  of  me,  get  at  a  good  subject  for  H.  W. 
as  yet. 

Dixon's  paper  admirably  told,  though  nothing  new 
in  it. 

Guild, 

I  think  the  reduction  of  Johnson  necessary — but  I 
would  do  it  on  not  less  than  a  month's  notice. 

Things  in  General. 

I  hope  to  begin  my  double  No.  next  Monday.  If  I 
can  get  it  done  in  good  time,  that  is  to  say  by  the 
18th  or  19th,  I  shall  come  over  with  it  myself.  Of 
this  I  will  advise  you,  however,  in  due  course. 

Dr.  Storrar's  opinion  of  Forster  gives  me  great 
concern,  though  it  has  (as  I  think  you  know)  certainly 
been  mine  for  some  time.  I  do  not  myself  believe 
that  Elliotson,  pre-occupied  with  other  things,  has 
the  least  idea  of  the  serious  nature  of  his  position. 

*  The  number  for  August  6th. 


no  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

And  I  am  strongly  inclined  to  think  that  the  best 
course  I  can  take  is  to  write  privately  to  Elliotson, 
and  represent  to  him  my  impression  of  the  necessity 
of  his  positively  ordering  Forster  away.  What  do 
you  think  of  that  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Haydn  is  the  Dictionary  of  Dates  man.  This  is  (I 
think)  the  third  time  he  has  acted  towards  me  in  that 
honorable,  and,  in  my  experience,  unprecedented 
manner. 

"  A  Literary  Lady's  Maid "  and  ^'  Corporation 
Dreams,"  coming  together,*  make  me  thrill  and 
shudder  with  indescribable  anguish. 


Boulogne, 

Wednesday,  Twenty -seventh  July,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  will  be  either  thi-ee  or 
four  more — as  nearly  as  I  can  judge,  four  more — of 
these  slips,  to  complete  this  article.f  I  will  send  you 
the  rest,  please  God,  to-morrow,  by  the  post  at  night. 

I  have  also  thought  of  another,  to  be  called 
"  Frauds  upon  the  Fairies  "  J — apropos  of  George 
Cruikshank's  editing.  Half  playfully  and  half 
seriously,  I  mean  to  protest  most  strongly  against 
alteration — for  any  purpose — of  the  beautiful  little 
stories  which  are  so  tenderly  and  humanly  useful  to 
us  in  these  times  when  the  world  is  too  much  with  us, 
early  and  late;  and  then  to  re-write  "Cinderella'' 
according  to    Total-abstinence,    Peace   Society,   and 

*  In  Ilouxehold  Words,  July  30th. 

t  Probably  "Gone  Astray,"  by  Dickens,  Household  Words,  Aupjust  13th. 

i  This  article,  by  Dickens,  appeared  in  Household  Words,  October  1st. 


1853]  "FRAUDS  UPON  THR   FAIRIES."  Ill 

Bloomer  principles,  and  expressly  for  their  propaga- 
tion. 

I  shall  want  his  book  of  "  Hop  o'  My  Thumb " 
(JForster  noticed  it  in  the  last  Examiner)  and  the 
most  simple  and  popular  version  of  *'  Cinderella  "  you 
can  get  me.  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  it  until  after 
finishing  "  Bleak  House,"  but  I  shall  do  it  the  more 
easily  for  having  the  books  by  me.  So  send  them,  if 
convenient,  in  your  next  parcel. 

Acknowledge  the  safe  receipt  of  this  MS. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Boulogne, 

First  August f  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  the  No.,*  which  is  a 
very  good  one  indeed.     Look  to  the  general  printing 
and  punctuation  of  the   second   article,  and  also  of 
"  Sick  Grapes." 
Enclosed  is  a  chapter  of  "  Child's  History." 
In  your  next  parcel  will  you  send  me — 
"  Vergani's  Italian  Grammar." 
"  A  Pocket  Italian  and  English  and  English  and 

Italian  Dictionary." 
"  An  Italian  Dialogue  Book." 
You  will  get  them  all  at  De  Torquet's  in  Tavistock 
Street,    by    the   office.      Dont   send   Punch  in  my 
parcels. 

I  am  now  going  tooth  and  nail  at  ''  Bleak  House." 
If  I  get  done  in  time,  I  shall  certainly  come  over. 
But  it  entirely  depends  upon  my  work. 

I  have  just  come  back  from  Amiens,  after  a  two 

•  The  issue  for  August  27th. 


112  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1853 

days'   trip.      Your   parcel   was   delivered  here   last 
night,  just  as  I  came  home. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


EOULOGNE, 

Friday  Evening^  Fifth  Augiistj  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  too  much  occupied  with 
the  conclusion  of  "  Bleak  House  " — just  getting  fairly 
into  it — to  go,  with  a  pen,  over  the  N"o.  without 
delaying  it.  I  therefore  send  the  corrections  of  the 
"  Child's  History "  chapter  enclosed,  and,  without 
returning  the  proof  in  a  parcel,  will  herein  note  my 
objections. 

In  the  first  place  the  N^o.  is  an  awfully  and  solemnly 
heavy  one — and,  if  you  have  any  kind  of  means  to 
that  end  by  you,  must  really  be  lightened.  I  read  it 
last  night,  and  had  a  Nightmare.  I  doubt  if  any- 
thing so  heavy  (except  stewed  lead)  could  possibly  be 
taken,  before  going  to  bed. 

1st.  "  Justice  to  Bears."  The  name  won't  do. 
We  have  already  had  "Justice  to  the  Hyaena." 
"  Brother  Beuin  "  *  would  be  a  capital  name,  I  think 
— thus  introduced : 

"  The  bear  symbolises  savage  and  primitive  equality, 
and  is  therefore  the  aversion  of  the  aristocracy." 
Such  is  the  clue  to  ursine  facts,  according  to  Passional 
Zoology,  which  subject,  and  M.  Toussenel's  treat- 
ment of  it,  we  now  resume.  It  would  appear  that 
Mr.  Sneakjt  in  "  The  Mayor  of  Garratt,"  had  much 
reason  in  him  when  he  addressed  the  rough  personage 

*  Household  Words,  August  20th,  by  Dixon. 

t  Jerry  Sneak  is  a  character  in  Samuel  Foote's  play,  "The  Mayor  of 
Garratt." 


1853]  SKIMPOLE.  118 

of  the  piece  as  Brother  Bruin.     Was  he  not  a  Bear 
and  a  Brother  ? 

"  Here  again  "  —  M.  Toussenel  exclaims  —  ''is 
another  " 

Then  read  the  proof — you,  W.  H.  W. — with  an 
eye  to  this  fact — that  it  wants  to  be  made  clearer  all 
the  way  through,  that  it  is  M.  Toussenel  who  is 
speaking,  and  not  H.  W.  conducted  by  C.  D. 

Secondly,  the  first  stage  to  Australia.*  There  is 
a  forlorn  attempt  at  humour  about  the  Deputy  In- 
spector General  (page  684)  that  cannot  be  too 
ferociously  decapitated.  Pray  have  nothing  about  a 
detective  in  that  connection ;  it  looks  like  weakly  and 
palely  hanging  on  Mr.  Bucket.  Damn  "here  they 
are  "  at  page  585 — and  dele  it  too.  "  And  the  onus 
of  the  idea  task  strangles  every  newly  born  smile  that 
struggles  for  existence  " — at  page  584  again — strike 
out  with  a  pen  of  iron.     Look  at  the  whole  paper. 

If  the  "Glimpse  of  Dublin "f  be  not  by 
Allingham,  strike  it  out.     If  it  be,  hold  it  over. 

"Gore  House"]:  is  very  poor.  Page  591,  first 
column.  Stop  at  the  Graces,  and  dele  the  rest  of  that 
paragraph.  It  is  Skimpole,  you  know — the  whole 
passage.     I  couldn't  write  it  more  like  him. 

I  have  forgotten  "  Licensed  to  Juggle."  Look  to 
the  slang  talk  of  it,  and  don't  let  "  Ya "  stand  for 
"You." 

"  The  Stereoscope  "  is  dreadfully  literal.  Some 
fancy  must  be  got  into  the  No.  if  John  writes  an 
article  for  it  himself  { — I  mean  our  John  :  not  Forster). 

*  This  must,  I  think,  refer  to  "  A  Digger's  Diary,"  by  R.  H.  Home.  It 
did  not,  however,  appear  till  September  3rd. 

t  Presumably  "  The  Length  of  the  Quays,"  which,  though  written  by  Sala 
and  not  by  Allingham,  did  appear  on  August  20th. 

X  "  Gore  House  "  was  by  Leigh  Hunt,  August  20th. 

D.E.  I 


lU  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1853 

I  should  have  thought  the  greater  part  of  it  written 
by  McCuUoch,  edited  by  Eintoul.* 

I  am  going  out  for  a  walk,  after  a  punishing  day's 
work. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
P.S. — Brighten  it,  brighten  it,  brighten  it ! 

Sundmjy  Seventh  Jugust,  1853. 
Boulogne. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — On  the  night  of  the  day  I  wrote 
to  you  about  there  being  no  letter  in  the  parcel — no, 
the  next  night — I  received  the  letter  from  Barnard's 
office,  by  itself,  ''  without  note  or  comment." 

I  like  the  notion  of  the  ''  Snow  Giant "  (which  would 
be  a  good  name)  though  the  end  is  out  of  the  question. 
It  begins  to  trail  off,  at  the  smallpox  part.  Ask  Miss 
Costello  what  it  is  translated  from,  and  whether  it  is 
literally  translated.  If  otherwise  (of  which  there  is 
very  little  hope)  I  think  it  might  be  well  altered  for 
the  Xmas  No. 

Ollier's  ballad  will  do. 

I  would  hold  "  Kensington  "  f  over, — certainly  for  a 
No.  0  Heaven,  Hunt's  not  lounging,  and  being  in 
earnest ! 

Can't  possibly  write  autographs,  until  I  have 
written  "  Bleak  House."  My  work  has  been  very  hard 
since  I  have  been  here ;  and  when  I  throw  down  my 

*  John  Ramsay  McCulloch  (1789 — 1864)  was  a  Scotsman,  a  political 
economist  ami  a  statistician.  He  wrote  a  great  deal  on  taxation,  the 
National  Debt,  currency  and  weights  and  measures. 

Robert  Stephen  Rintoul  (1787 — 1858),  also  a  Scotsman,  was  a  journalist 
and  an  advocate  of  political  reform,  emigration  and  colonisation.  He 
founded  The  Spectatm\  and  edited  it  from  its  first  number,  July  6th,  1828, 
till  1858,  when  he  sold  it. 

•}■  "Kensington,"  by  Leigh  Hunt,  Ilongehold  Wmd*^  September  3rd. 


1853J  THE   COURT   OF  CHANCERY.  115 

pen  of  a  clay,  I  thi'ow  down  myself  and  can  take  up 
neither  article.* 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

P.S. — My  head  is  so  pre-occupied,  that  I  have  for- 
gotten two  leading  points  of  my  note. 

First.  AVill  you  send  me,  in  a  post  letter,  a  £20 
note  for  the  enclosed. 

Secondly.  Will  you  at  once  make  an  enquiry  into 
the  Day  Chancery  cause,  as 

(1)  When  was  it  instituted  ? 

(2)  How  much  nearer  is  it  now  to  its  completion. 

(3)  What  has  been  spent  in  costs  ? 

(4)  How  many  Counsel  appear — about — when- 

ever the  Court  is  moved.f 
You  did  ask  this  for  me  before,  but  I  made  no  note  of  it. 
I  should  like  to  glance  at  it  in  the  Preface.  Of  course 
I  will  in  no  degree  whatever  commit  your  informant ; 
nor  shall  I  even  mention  the  cause  by  name.  But  I 
wish  to  be  within  the  facts. 

Boulogne, 

Fifteenth  August^  1853. 
Monday. 

My  Dear  Wills: — No.  179.  Want  Places  not 
in  inverted  commas  as  a  title.J  Pray  substitute 
something  for  ' '  Houses  of  Business,"  which  is  wretched 

*  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "Letters,"  IIL,  140,  as  the  beginning  of  a 
totally  different  letter  of  the  same  date — which  letter  has  no  actual  existence, 
being  made  up  of  extracts  from  five  separate  letters. 

t  To  these  queries  Wills  has  appended  the  following  answers  in  pencil : — 

(1)  About  1834,  as  near  as  I  know. 

(2)  As  far  off  as  ever. 

(3)  At  least  £70,000. 

(4)  Formerly  always  17,  sometimes  30  or  40  ;  it  used  to  be  said  the 

whole  Bar.    The  number  has  been  much  reduced. 
J  By  Sala,  Uuuselwld  Words,  August  27th. 

I  2 


116  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1853 

and   contradictory.     (I   fear   I   am   writing — it  just 
strikes  me — about  a  No.  that  is  worked.) 

No.  180  I  will  try  to  retui-n  tomorrow. 

I  see  no  objection  whatever  to  Sala's  pursuing  that 
subject,  as  long  as  his  matter  is  good. 

I  hope  to  dine  at  H.  W.  on  Thursday  at  ^  past  6.  I 
shall  be  due  at  London  Bridge  at  6 — purposing  to 
write  the  last  little  three-page  chapter  of  "  Bleak 
House,"  in  town — and  will  come  straight  on  in  a 
constitutional  cab.  Perhaps  Forster  will  like  to  dine 
with  us. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Fourteenth  September,  1853. 

H,   W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  "  Frauds  on  the 
Fairies"* — which  I  think  (between  ourselves) 
ADMIRABLE.  Both  mcrry  and  wise.  When  you  send 
proofs,  send  two. 

You  shall  have  some  more  "  Child's  History  "  in  the 
next  parcel. 

Courier. 

I  have  been  greatly  diverted  by  your  account  of 
the  Impracticable  applicants.  I  await  Kamb  with 
interest.  Mrs.  Watson  has  written  to  me  of  another 
strongly  recommended  (by  her  father  Lord  George 
Quin  with  whom  he  travelled)  and  now  at  Paris ;  but 
Kamb  shall  have  his  fair  chance,  and  if  I  fully  like 
him,  I  will  take  him,  supposing  the  other  not  to 
precede  him. 

•  Uouaehold  Words,  October  Ist.     See  ante,  p.  110. 


1853]  "FRAUDS  ON  THE   FAIRIES."  117 

Family 


Send  kindest  regards. 


Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Boulogne, 

Sunday,  Eiglitecntli  September,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  you  the  No.*  with  a 
good  many  corrections  in  pencil  on  it — some  queries, 
where  it  is  so  badly  printed  that  I  cannot  understand 
what  is  meant. 

I  have  put  two  crosses  against  an  expression  in 
OUier's  poem 

— "and  yet  it  is  not  night" 
— which  you  may  remember  in  an  older  line,  preceded 
by  the  words  "  The  moon  is  up."     If  he  be  accessible, 
ask  him  to  alter  it. 

The  titles  will  stand 

"  Frauds  on  the  Fairies." 
"  Tribunals  of  Commerce." 

(here  again  I  have  queried  the  concluding  paragraph 
which  should  be  rather  a  suggestion,  1  think,  than 
such  an  absolute  statement) 

"  Bucharest." 

"  Starlight  in  the  Garden." 

"  The  Great  Saddle  worth  Exhibition." 

*'  Dead  Eeckoning  at  the  Morgue." 

"  A  Child's  History  of  England." 

The  whole  requires  to  be  carefully  gone  over. 
I  send  you  another  short  article  for  the  next  No., 
chiefly  apropos  of  Mr.  Dunn's  case. 

*  The  number  for  October  Ist. 


118  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1853 

The  enclosed  letter  to  Mr.  Henry  Morley  came  in 
yesterday's  parcel — I  suppose  clearly  by  mistake.  I 
send  it  back  again. 

Courier. 

Edward  Kamb  will  bring  this.  He  turned  up 
yesterday,  accounting  for  his  delay  by  waiting  for  a 
written  recommendation,  and  having  at  the  last 
moment  (as  a  foreigner  not  being  an  Englishman)  a 
passport  to  get.  I  quite  agree  with  you  as  to  his 
appearance  and  manner,  and  have  engaged  him.  It 
strikes  me  that  it  would  be  an  excellent  begimiing  if 
you  would  deliver  him  a  neat  and  appropriate  address, 
telling  him  what  in  your  conscience  you  can  find  to 
tell  of  me  favourably  as  a  master,  and  particularly 
impressing  upon  him  readiness  and  punctuality  on  his 
part  as  the  great  things  to  be  observed.  I  think  it 
would  have  a  much  better  effect  than  anything  I 
could  say  in  this  stage,  of  and  from  myself.  And  I 
shall  be  much  obliged  to  you  if  you  will  act  upon  this 
hint  forthwith. 

W.  H.  Wills. 

No  letter  having  arrived  from  the  popular  author 
of  the  "  Larboard  Fin  "*  by  this  morning's  post,  I 
rather  think  one  must  be  on  the  way  in  the  pocket  of 
Gordon's  son — whom,  between  ourselves,  I  don't  at 
all  want.  If  Kamb  calls  for  this  before  Young 
Scotland  arrives,  you  will  understand  if  I  do  not  refer 
to  an  unreceived  letter.  But  I  shall  leave  this  open 
until  Kamb  comes  first. 

X—  Y— 

is  of  course  an  evasive  humbug.     Accept  that  story — 

*  A  wliolly  imaginary  nautical  drama  alleged  (by  Diclvons)  to  have  been 
written  by  Wills. 


1853]  KAMB,   THE   COURIER.  119 

but  Lord  to  see  how  he  has  spoilt  it ! !  !  I  will  re-write 
it,  and  send  it  you  back. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne,  Tuesday  Evening, 
(Just  before  dinner), 

Tiventieth  September,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  just  received  your  letter 
and  think  Kamb  appears  so  completely  to  mistake  his 
position  and  functions  in  that  ridiculous  charge  for 
expenses,  that  I  wish  you  would  be  so  kind  as  to  send 
for  him  at  once  and  tell  him  that  I  shall  not  take  him 
unless  it  is  distinctly  understood  between  you  and  him 
that  I  shall  hereafter  reduce  them,  and  deduct  as  much 
of  this  bill  from  his  wages  as  I  know  to  be  right. 
Otherwise  I  know  this  bill  to  be  ample  ground  for 
declaring  off,  and  I  most  positively  do  so.  I  am 
thoroughly  well  acquainted  with  the  practice  and  the 
expectations  of  the  best  Couriers,  and  on  all  grounds 
of  common  sense  and  justice  I  reject  such  extortion. 
Therefore  unless  you  find  that  he  perfectly  under- 
stands and  that  he  unconditionally  submits,  please  see 
one  of  the  other  applicants  of  whom  you  thought 
favourably.  His  address  is  4,  King  Street,  Grosvenor 
Square. 

I  write  hastily  for  this  express  purpose,  and  will 
write  again  to-morrow.  Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 

Boulogne, 

Sunday,  Ninth  October,  1853. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many  thanks  for  your  kind 
letter,  both  on  my  own  behalf,  and  on  that  of  the  unpro- 
tected females.     They  are  sincerely  sensible  of  your 


120  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1853 

offer,  and  Mrs.  Dickens  begs  me  to  say  that  she  will 
not  hesitate  to  give  you  all  the  trouble  in  her  power ! 

I  write  before  the  arrival  of  Mark  [Lemon],  but 
leave  this  open  in  the  meanwhile  in  case  I  should  then 
have  anything  to  add.  On  the  second  haK  of  this 
sheet,*  I  send  my  line  of  march  as  far  as  Lausanne, 
whence  I  will  write  again.  I  shall  not  expect  (unless 
in  some  extraordinary  case)  to  hear  from  you  before 
I  get  there. 

When  the  sheets  of  the  3rd  Volume  of  the  "  Child's 
History  "  come  to  you  (as  they  will)  will  you  put  a 
few  words  into  His  Sowship'sf  life,  where  his  writ- 
ings are  referred  to,  to  the  effect  that  he  wrote,  among 
other  things,  about  Witches,  in  whom  he  was  (as  such 
a  wrong-headed  Dolt  ought  to  have  been)  a  strong 
believer.  I  somehow  forgot  to  put  this  in  to  the 
MS.  Likewise,  you  will  find  it  stated  that  after  the 
Gunpowder  Plot  some  Catholics  Avere  for  safety  in 
the  fens  of  Lincolnshire.  It  ought  to  be,  the  fens  of 
Ely. 

I  don't  remember  that  I  have  anything  more  to  add 
— except  that  the  moustaches  don't  look  a  bit  better 
than  they  did.  The  failures  desire  their  kindest 
regards.  I  shall  come  back,  I  hope,  with  no  end  of 
good  things  in  my  mind  for  H.  W.  Meanwhile  and 
always,  believe  me, 

Very  heartily  yours, 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.]  C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Fourteenth  December,  1853. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — I  have  brought  you  home 
a  trifling  brooch  in  the  silver  filigree -work,  which  has 

*  Tliia  has  been  torn  off. 
t  James  the  First. 


1854]  "MISS   BERWICK."  121 

no  value  of  itself,  but  which  I  hope  may  find  some  in 
your  honest  eyes,  as  a  little  sign  of  remembrance  from 
your  excellent  husband's  attached  friend  and  fellow- 
workman. 

Always  very  faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 
Mrs.  Wills. 


1854. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  year  Dickens  gave 
several  readings  in  large  provincial  towns  for  charit- 
able purposes. 

In  the  summer  he  again  went  to  Boulogne,  to  a 
different  house,  the  Villa  du  Camp  de  Droits,  which  he 
rented  from  the  same  landlord,  M.  Beaucourt. 

*'  Hard  Times  "  ran  through  Household  Words  from 
April  1st  to  August  12th,  when  it  was  published  in 
book-form.  Forster  ("Life,"  III.,  45)  says  that  with 
''  Hard  Times"  Dickens  more  than  doubled  the  circu- 
lation of  his  journal. 


[Wills  was  staying  at  Malvern  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health.] 

OFFICE  OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Wcdnesdaij,  Tivelfth  April,  1854. 

H,  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  given  Miss  Berwick's* 
"  Knight  Errant,"   the  benefit  of  the  doubt,  and  sent 


*    u 


•  Miss  Berwick "  was  the  pseudonym  of  Adelaiclo  Procter,  Barry 
Cornwall's  daughter.  Her  first  contribution  ("  Old  Ecliocs  ")  appeared  in 
Ilouxeliuld  Wiirds  of  February  5th,  1853. 


122  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

it  to  the  Printers.  The  Spring  lines  I  re-enclose. 
I  would  decline  them,  on  the  ground  that  after  the 
Spring  Sonnet  we  have  settled  Spring  for  this  year. 

Look  at  this  letter  from  Mrs.  Gaskell.  Did  you 
send  it  this  morning — omit  all  mention  of  it  by  mis- 
take— and  send  it  in  consequence  of  having  received 
it  with  the  missing  paper  ?  It  has  no  date,  but  it  must 
be  old,  I  infer,  because  the  Mr.  Fairbaim  matter  is  all 
arranged  with  her.  I  had  a  number  of  letters  by  this 
morning's  post,  and  did  not  look  at  this  until  I  had 
destroyed  the  envelope.  I  can't  answer  it  without 
first  communicating  thus  with  you,  for  I  can't  in  the 
least  understand  it. 

I  know  all  the  walks  for  many  and  many  miles 
round  you,  and  delightful  walks  they  are.  I  suppose 
you  are  already  getting  very  stout,  very  red,  very 
jovial  (in  a  physical  point  of  view)  altogether. 

Mark  and  I  walked  to  Dartford  from  Greenwich, 
last  Monday,  and  found  Mrs.  Homer  acting  "  The 
Stranger  "  (with  a  strolling  company  from  the  Standard 
Theatre)  in  "  Mr.  Munns's  Schoolroom."  The  stage 
was  a  little  wider  than  your  table  here,  and  its  surface 
was  composed  of  loose  boards  laid  on  the  school  forms. 
Dogs  sniifed  about  it  during  the  performances,  and  the 
carpenter's  highlows  were  ostentatiously  taken  off  and 
displayed  in  the  Proscenium.  We  stayed  until  a 
quarter  to  ten,  when  we  were  obliged  to  fly  to  the 
Pailroad,  but  we  sent  the  landlord  of  the  hotel  down 
with  the  following  articles  : 

1  Bottle  superior  Old  Port. 

1     Do.       Do.      Gold  Sherry. 

1     Do.       Do.      best  French  Brandy. 

1     Do.       Do.      1st  quality  Old  Tom  Gin. 

1     Do.       Do.      Prime  Jamaica  Pum. 


1854]  A  TREAT   AT   DARTFORD.  123 

1  Bottle  superior  small  still  Isla  Whiskey. 

1  Kettle  boiling  water. 

Two  pounds  finest  white  lump  sugar. 

Our  cards. 

1  Lemon,  and 

Our  compliments. 
The  effect  we  had  previously  made  upon  the  Theatrical 
Company  by  being  beheld  in  the  first  two  chairs — 
there  was  nearly  a  pound  in  the  house — was  altogether 
electrical. 

My  ladies  send  their  kindest  regards,  and  are  dis- 
appointed at  your  not  saying  that  you  drink  two  and 
twenty  tumblers  of  the  limpid  element,  every  day. 
The  children  also  unite  in  "  loves,"  and  the  Plornish- 
ghenter  on  being  asked  if  he  would  send  his,  replied 
"  Yes — Man,"  which  we  understand  to  signify  cordial 
acquiescence. 

Forster  just  come  back  from  lecturing  at  Sherborne. 
Describes  said  lecture  as  "  Blaze  of  Triumph." 

H.    W.    AGAIN. 

Miss — I  mean  Mrs. — Bell's  story  very  nice.  I  have 
sent  it  to  the  Printer,  and  entitled  it  "  The  Green  Eing 
and  the  Gold  Eing."  * 

This  apartment  looks  desolate  in  your  absence — but 
0  Heavens  how  tidy ! 

J.  W. 

Mrs.  Wills  supposed  to  have  gone  into  a  convent  at 
Somers  Town. 

B.   AND   E. 

Never  paid  the  £500  !     Consequently  I  had  notice 

*  It  appeared  May  Gth. 


124  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

yesterday  that  I  had  overdrawn  ray  account  at  Coutts'. 
Whereof  I  have  given  them  notice  to-day,  in  strong 
terms. 

My  Dear  Wills, 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Tuesday,  Eighteenth  April,  1854. 

H.  W. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  will  go  over  the  No.  when  it 
comes,  and  write  to  you  again  after  doing  so.  There 
is  a  capital  paper  by  Sala  in  proof,  called  "  Tatterboy's 
Rents."*  I  wish  you  would  write  to  him  from  me, 
and  tell  him  by  all  means  to  pursue  the  subject,  as  he 
intimates  an  idea  of  doing  at  the  close  of  the  article. 

C.  D. 

I  am  in  a  dreary  state,  planning  and  planning  the 
story  of  "  Hard  Times  "  (out  of  materials  for  I  don't 
know  how  long  a  story),  and  consequently  writing 
little.  Mark  and  I  had  it  in  contemplation  to  come 
down  to  Worcester  next  Monday  and  ask  you  to  meet 
us  there  instead  of  our  coming  to  Malvern:  which 
would  have  given  us  from  five  to  six  hours  together 
at  the  Inn.  But  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
spare  the  day.  Macready  is  coming  to  town  to-day, 
and  I  have  unavoidable  engagements  all  the  week 
which  will  greatly  hamper  me.  Moreover  I  am  greatly 
anxious  to  keep  ahead.     But — 

W.  H.  W. 

It  appears  to  me  that  you  must  most  decidedly  stay 
at  Malvern  a  full  month.     I  don't  think  you  can  put 

*  "  Tattyboy's  Iloiits,"  by  Sala,  appeared  May  13tb. 


1854J  THE  T.   R.,    HAYMARKET.  125 

the  cure  to  any  rational  and  fair  test  in  a  shorter  time. 
If  you  decide  to  do  that,  Mark  and  I  will  overhaul  our 
respective  logs  (excuse  nauticality,  but  I  have  been 
reading  a  soul-stirring  Drama  called  the  "Larboard 
Fin,"  *  which  loohs  to  me  like  an  undiscovered  play  by 
Shakespeare,  surreptitiously  modernized),  and  will 
make  another  appointment  for  next  week.  You  are 
now  in  the  Black  and  Blue  stage.  I  don't  apprehend 
that  you  are  likely  to  come  to  a  Flesh-coloured  com- 
plexion in  less  than  four  weeks.  You  are  not  green 
yet — and  that  takes  time. 

W.  H.  W.  (brought  up). 

You  refer  in  a  maddening  manner,  to  something 
you  don't  enclose  in  your  letter.  What  do  you  mean 
by  it? 

T.  R.,  Haymarket. 

I  went  there  to  see  the  Easter  piece  last  night,  and 
I  never  beheld  anything  so  dreary.  The  agonies  of 
Mrs.  Fitzwilliam  and  Buckstone  were  positively  most 
distressing  to  see.  Everything  went  wrong,  and  was 
bad  if  it  had  gone  right.  Once,  before  a  pair  of  flats 
(clouds),  Mrs.  F.  waved  a  golden  patent  hearthbroom 
about  five  and  twenty  minutes,  without  anything 
happening.  Then  she  and  Miss  Feather  stone  and 
Young  Farren  came  down  to  the  Float,  and  sang  and 
pattered  all  the  rest  of  the  piece — got  it  off  at  once — 
and  after  another  long  interval  a  carpenter  was  dis- 
closed in  a  celestial  place  (but  swearing  awfully)  and 
a  man  in  black,  supposed  to  be  unseen,  seized  some 
red  fire  and  wildly  lighted  it  up.  Buckstone  mean- 
time, perfectly  idiotic  and  imbecile  with  grief,  laid  his 
head  on  Mrs.  Fitzwilliam's  bosom. 

*  See  ante,  p.  118,  note. 


126  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1854 

J[ohn]  F[orster] 
was  there,  and  perpetually  said,  "My  dear  Dickens, 


Good  God,  wliat  does  this  mean  ?  "  To  which  that 
eminent  man  replied,  after  the  manner  of  Commodore 
Trunnion,  *'  Hold  your  tongue  and  be  damned !  " 
For  we  were  sitting  over  the  stage. 

B.  AND   E. 

Have  paid  the  £500. 

All  the  Family 

send  kindest  regards. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 


No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North, 
Strand, 
Thursday,  Twentieth  April,  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  very  carefully 
over  the  whole  No.  and  sent  it  down  to  Any.  It  is 
a  very  good  one,  I  think,  and  I  see  no  occasion  to 
alter  the  course  of  the  making-up,  or  to  change  any 
paper.  The  titles  are  improved.  I  think  I  must 
have  taken  out  almost  as  much  as  is  required.  If  you 
have  to  take  out  more,  take  it  from  "  Dr.  Pablo  "  *  after 
his  marriage  and  the  loss  of  his  wife's  fortune. 

Mrs.  GaskelPs  missing  paper  has  turned  up  at  last, 
and  is  in  the  printer's  hands. 

*  By  Morley,  Uoutehold  Words,  May  6th. 


1854]  THE   "BONUS."  127 

W.  H.  W. 

It  is  quite  clear  that  you  must  stay  at  Malvern  a 
month,  and  come  back  a  miracle  of  health.  There  is 
not  the  least  difficulty  in  the  way,  nor  have  I,  really, 
more  to  do  than  at  another  time,  though  I  need  not 
say  to  you  that  I  should  be  more  than  willing  to  do 
it  if  I  had.  It  appears  to  me  from  the  materials  on 
hand  that  we  are  quite  safe  for  good  numbers. 

General   Intelligence. 

You  know  my  man  Cooper  ?  Steady  stupid  sort  of 
highly  respectable  creature  ?  Seven  children.  Eldest 
boy  13  years  old,  "working"  (I  can't  conceive  how) 
at  a  mathematical  instrument  maker's  "  down  at 
Westminster."  On  Tuesday  night,  the  boy  did  not 
come  home.  Mother  half  distracted,  and  getting  up 
at  6  in  the  morning  to  go  and  look  for  him.  Father 
went  out  after  breakfast  to  do  likewise.  Boy  had 
been  sent  on  an  errand,  had  punctually  performed  the 
errand,  and  been  heard  of  no  more.  Father  conferring 
with  Policeman  on  disappearance,  up  comes  strange 
boy  saying  that  how  he  has  eerd  tell  as  a  boy  is  a  lyin 
in  the  "  Bonus,"  as  was  run  over.  Wretched  father 
goes  to  the  Bonus  (attached  to  the  Workhouse,  I 
suppose),  and  finds  his  child  with  his  head  smashed  to 
pieces  !  He  was  walking  on  some  planks  by  the  road- 
side, a  plank  tilted,  he  fell  under  a  coal  waggon  as  it 
was  advancing,  and  was  picked  up  as  Dead  as  Adam. 
I  cannot  get  it  out  of  my  mind — as  Forster  would  say. 

My  neighbour's,  Mr.  Cardale's,  daughter  married 
this  morning,  and  I  was  obliged  to  leave  home  at  what 
the  newspapers  always  call  "  an  early  hour  of  the 
morning  "  to  avoid  distraction.  All  the  women  and 
girls  in  my  house,  stark  mad  on  the  subject.     Despotic 


128  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

conjugal  influence  exerted  to  keep  Mrs-.  Dickens  out 
of  the  church.  Caught  putting  bonnet  on  for  that 
purpose,  and  sternly  commanded  to  renounce  idiotic 
intentions.  Bride  reported  by  our  confectioner 
(envious  and  a  Roman  Catholic)  to  have  the  gift  of 
Tongues.     It  probably  will  disappear  now. 

Mark  has  just  come  in,  and  sends  all  manner  of 
regards.     Time  of  our  visit  is  still  uncertain,  in  conse- 
quence  of    "Hard   Times,"    and   great   pressure    of 
Wooden-Headeduess  on  gifted  author. 
Kindest  remembrances  from  all  at  home. 
Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Most  faithfully, 

CD. 

Tavistock  House, 

Tuesday  J  Thirtieth  May,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  Thomas's  story  *  very 
good  indeed.  Close,  original,  vigorous,  and  graphic. 
It  strikes  mc  that  I  see  better  things  in  it  than  he  has 
done  yet. 

An  alteration  occurs  to  me — easily  made — which  I 
think  would  greatly  improve  it,  in  respect  of  interest 
and  quiet  pathos,  and  a  closing  sentiment  of  pleasure 
to  the  reader.  It  should  be  delicately  expressed  that 
the  man  (admirably  described)  who  comes  a- courting 
Miss  Furbey  is  the  old  lover  who  has  always  been 
faithful.  I  think  Miss  Furbey  might  have  always 
had  a  miniature  of  him,  hanging  up,  or  in  a  pet  drawer 
and  sometimes  brought  out,  taken  when  he  was  a 
young  man;  and  that  when  the  narrator  begins  to 
observe  him  and  his  visits,  she  should  still  see  in  the 

*  "  Miss  Furbey  "  appeared  in  Housefwld  Words,  Juno  17th. 


1854]  THE   VILLA   AT   BOULOGNE.  129 

grey   haii-   and   the   worn    face   something    of    that 
portrait. 

I  wish  you  woukl  make  the  suggestion  in  my  words. 
Beg  him  not  to  delay  the  story,  for  I  don't  like  to 
keep  anything  of  so  much  merit  out  of  print. 

The  young  poet  is  not  quite  to  any  purpose  at 
present,  but  I  would  certainly  encourage  him. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
"  Death's  Doors  " 

will  be  a  better  name  for  Morley's  paper  than  the  one 
I  gave  it  yesterday. 


Villa  du  Camp  de  Diioite, 

Thursday,  Twenty -second  June,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  nothing  to  say,  but, 
having  heard  from  you  this  morning,  think  I  may  as 
well  report  all  well. 

We  have  a  most  charming  place  here.  I  think  the 
finest  situation  (Genoa  excepted)  I  have  lived  in,  and 
the  best  cottage  house.  It  beats  the  former  residence 
all  to  nothing.  We  have  a  beautiful  garden  with  all 
its  fruits  and  flowers,  and  a  field  of  our  own,  and  a 
road  of  our  own  away  to  the  Columns,  and  everything 
that  is  airy  and  fresh.  The  great  Beaucourt  hovers 
about  us  like  a  guardian  genius,  and  I  imagine  that 
no  English  person  in  a  carriage  could  by  any  possibility 
find  the  place. 

Of  the  wonderful  inventions  and  contrivances  with 
which  a  certain  Inimitable  creature  has  made  the  most 
of  it,  I  will  say  nothing  until  you  have  an  opportunity 
of  inspecting  the  same.     At  present  I  will  only  observe 

D.E.  K 


130  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

that  I  liave  written  exactly  72  words  of  ''Hard 
Times  "  since  I  liave  been  here. 

Many  thanks  for  the  Cranstone  information  which 
is  quite  conclusive. 

As  to  your  account  of ,  though  it  makes  me 

laugh,  it  makes  me  feel  disposed  to  tear  my  hair  off. 
That  he  should  ever  have  been  such  a  double-distilled 
ass  as  to  marry  that  girl,  or  have  anything  on  earth  to 
do  with  that  Family  !  The  great  thing  to  be  hoped 
is,  that  she  will  never  go  back  to  him,  and  that  her 
father  and  mother  may  fly  with  her — and  the  Devil 
with  all  of  'em — to  the  Antipodes. 

The  children  arrived  on  Tuesday  night  per  London 
boat,  in  every  stage  and  aspect  of  sea-sickness.  With 
them,  Lally  and  Betty  Lemon,  whose  parents  and 
guardians  had  discreetly  packed  two  dozen  pairs  of 
bran  new  stockings  in  their  luggage.  Duty  on  said 
stockings,  8  francs. 

The  camp  is  about  a  mile  off,  and  huts  are  now 
building  for  (they  say)  60,000  soldiers.  I  don't 
imagine  it  to  be  near  enough  to  bother  us. 

If  the  weather  ever  should  be  fine,  it  might  do  you 
good  sometimes  to  come  over  with  the  proofs  on  a 
Saturday  when  the  tide  served  well,  before  you  and 
Mrs.  W.  make  your  annual  visit.  Recollect,  there  is 
always  a  bed,  and  no  sudden  appearance  will  put 
us  out. 

Kind  regards, 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Mr.  Davcy  may  well  stand  over  till  I  return.  I 
will  tell  you  something  apropos  of  that. 

I  shall  be  curious  to  hear  the  end  of  's  domes- 
ticity.    Get  him,  if  you  can,  to  shew  you  the  letter  he 


1854]  "HARD   TIMES."  131 

will  receive  from  his  wife's  father.     0  what  a  letter 
that  will  be ! 


Boulogne, 
Thursdmj,  Fourteenth  [^Thirteenth']  July,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Your  note  received,  and  your 
parcel  expected. 

I  am  so  stunned  with  work,  that  I  really  am  not 
able  (in  sending  off  my  own  parcel  hurriedly)  to 
answer  your  questions — I  mean,  not  able  to  consider 
them.  I  doubt  if  there  will  not  be  too  much  of 
"Hard  Times,"  to  admit  of  the  conclusion  all  going 
in  together.  There  will  probably  be  either  14  or  15 
sides  of  my  writing.  But  the  best  thing  will  be  for 
me  to  come  over  with  it,  the  moment  I  have  finished. 
Oil  Wednesday  night  at  a  quarter  past  ten,  I  hope  to  be 
at  London  Bridge.  But  if  I  should  find  on  Monday 
(though  I  hardly  expect  it)  that  I  can  come  on 
Tuesday  night  instead  I  will  let  you  know  as  much  by 
Monday's  post. 

The  MS.  now  sent,  contains  what  I  have  looked 
forward  to  through  many  weeks. 

The  advertisement  will  simply  be — 

On  such  a  day  will  be  published  complete  in 

One  Volume,  price  five  shillings, 

Haed  Times, 

By  Charles  Dickens. 

I  will  send  B.  and  E.  the  two  first  books  in  your 
returned  parcel. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Call  the  Guild  again,  for  Monday  Week. 

K  2 


132  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1851 

I30UL0GNE, 

Saturday  Niijht,  Fourteenth  [^Fifteentli]  Juhj,  1854. 
"Hard  Times." 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  enclosed  batch  of  print 
tied  up  with  string,  to  Whitefriars  at  once,  if  you 
please. 

H.   W. 

My  corrections  are  rather  slightly  made,  and  the 
'No.  wants  carefully  going  over  for  plain  pointing  and 
setting  out. 

The  "  C.  P."  by  E.  S.*  is  very  well  done,  but  I 
cannot  make  up  my  mind  to  lend  my  blow  to  the  great 
Forge-bellows  of  puffery  at  work.  I  so  heartily 
desire  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  that  I  wish  you 
would  cancel  this  article  altogether,  and  substitute 
something  else.  As  to  the  guide-books,  I  think  they 
are  a  sufficiently  flatulent  botheration  in  themselves, 
without  being  discussed.  A  lurking  desire  is  always 
upon  me  to  put  Mr.  Laing's  speech  on  Accidents  to  the 
public,  as  Chairman  of  the  Brighton  Railway,  against 
his  pretensions  as  a  chairman  of  public  Instructors 
and  guardians.  And  I  don't  know  but  what  I  may 
come  to  it  at  some  odd  time.  This  strengthens  me  in 
my  wish  to  avoid  the  bellows,  f 

When  you  want  a  parcel  to  reach  me  at  once  (if 
ever)  I  think  you  had  better  write  outside,  so  much 
for  Immediate  Delivery.  Because  my  friend  Barnard 
keeps  them  all  cooling,  four  or  five  hours.  And  t 
don't  know  that  he  can  be  reasonably  expected  under 
the  circumstances,  to  do  anything  else. 

*  Probably  an  article  on  the  Crystal  Palace,  the  erection  of  which,  at 
Sydenham,  was  completed  this  year. 

t  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  140,  as  part  of  the  supposed 
letter  of  August  7th,  1853. 


1854]  "  HARD   TIMES "   FINISHED.  183 


hope  to  get  up  to  town  on  Tuesday  night  with  the 
close  of  "  Hard  Times."  Will  write  again  on  Monday 
night.  Meanwhile,  all  other  matters  stand  over 
without  mention  except — 

Guild. 

The  table  of  Sickness  Fund  premiums  requires  exten- 
sion or  a  plain  explanation  appended  that  it  presents 
the  Minimum  of  Provident  Investment  under  that 
head,  and  that  so  much  is  the  Maximum.  Without 
such  addition  it  looks  ludicrous. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 
Monday,  July  Seventeenth,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  happy  to  say  that  I  have 
finished  "  Hard  Times "  this  morning.  I  purpose 
coming  over  to-morrow,  arriving  at  London  Bridge 
at  a  quarter  past  10  at  Night.  Will  you  tell  Cooper 
to  be  there,  in  waiting  for  me. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Sunday,  Thirtieth  July,  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  the  No.  The  over- 
matter  was  not  in  the  parcel.  Therefore  I  don't  know 
what  it  is. 

"  Turkish  Seamanship,"  as  a  separate  article  of  one 
column,  is  ridiculous.     It  must  be  a  chip. 


134  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1854 

If  you  have  anything  else  of  any  merit,  I  greatly 
doubt  the  expediency  of  closing  the  No.  with  that 
''Back  Ways  to  Fame."*  I  suppose  it  to  be  by 
Moiiey.  But  it  is  dreadfully  heavy.  It  would  do  in 
another  place  and  at  another  time,  but  I  feel  it  to  drag 
most  wearily  here. 

You  had  better  get  into  this  No.  the  following 
advertisem  ent — 

New  Tale,  by  the  author   of  "Mary  Barton,"  to 
he  published  weekly  in  Ilouseliold  Words. 
On  Wednesday,  the  30th  day  of  August  will  be 
published,  in  Household  Words,  the  First  Portion 
of  a  New  Work  of  Fiction,  called — 
"  North  akd  South." 
By  The  Author  of  "  Mary  Barton." 
The   publication   of   this   story,    &c. 

(according  to  the  first  announcement  of  "Hard  Times," 
at  the  end  of  No.  206). 

The  advertisement  must  always  stand,  aftei'wards, 
like  the  old  "  Hard  Times  "  advertisement. 

I  have  begged  Mrs.  Gaskell  to  send  you  some 
MS.  for  the  printers  to  get  up.  B.  and  E.  must  do 
what  they  think  necessary  in  the  advertising  way, 
but,  if  they  bill  the  walls,  they  must  be  very  careful 
only  to  have  the  plain,  good,  sensible  bills  used  in  the 
case  of  "Hard  Times,"  that  we  had  at  the  office. 
She  objects  to  any  title  if  it  can  be  disjiensed  with ; 
and  altogether  refuses  (and  no  wonder)  to  be  connected 
with  a  hideous  placard  all  askew,  invented  in  White - 
friars  for  "  Hard  Times,"  and  concerning  which 
phenomenon  I  wrote  to  Bradbury  on  its  appearance. 

Parcel  for  Whitefriars,  enclosed.  Also  two  letters 
for  post. 

*  By  Morlcy,  Household  Words,  August  19th. 


1854]  THE   METEOR   FLAG    STOLEN.  135 

Family. 

All  well,  and  the  Meteor  Flag  a  tremendous 
success.     Collins  sends  regards. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Wednesday  J  Second  August^  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills: — In  the  next  parcel  will  you 
send  me  both  volumes  of  this  book  ? 

I  will  endeavour  to  come  off  my  back  (and  the 
grass)  to  do  an  opening  paper  for  the  starting  No. 
of  "  North  and  South."  I  can't  positively  answer  for 
such  a  victory  over  the  idleness  into  which  I  have 
delightfully  sunk,  as  the  achievement  of  this  feat ;  but 
let  us  hope. 

During  a  fete  on  Monday  night,  the  Meteor  Flag 
of  England  (forgotten  to  be  struck  at  sunset)  was — 
stolen  1 1 ! 

seems  to  have  brought  his  career  to  a  noble 

conclusion  at  last.  When  the  united  bores  (and  the 
political  economists)  give  him  a  piece  of  plate  and  a 
dinner,  will  you  put  me  down  for  Twenty-five  Pounds 
and  a  Speech. 

Manage  the  proofs  of  H.  JV.  so  that  I  may  not  have 
to  correct  them  on  a  Sunday.  I  am  not  going  over 
to  the  Sabbatarians,  but  like  the  haystack  (particu- 
larly) on  a  Sunday  morning. 

I  should  like  John  to  call  on  M.  Henri,  Townshend's 
servant,  21,  Norfolk  Street,  Park  Lane,  and  ask  him 
if,  when  he  comes  over  here  with  his  master,  he  can 
take  charge  of  a  trap,  bat,  and  ball.  If  yea,  then  I 
should  like  John  to  proceed  to  Mr.  Darke's,  Lord's 
Cricket  Ground,  and  purchase  said  trap,  bat,  and  ball. 


130  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1854 

of  the  best  quality.  Townsliend*  is  coming  here  on 
the  15th — probably  will  leave  town  a  day  or  two 
before. 

Pray  be  in  a  condition  to  drink  a  glass  of  the  1846 
champagne,  when  you  come. 

I  think  I  have  no  more  to  say  at  present.  I  cannot 
sufficiently  admire  my  prodigious  energy  in  coming 
out  of  a  stupor  to  write  this  letter. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Monday,  Seventh  August,  1854. 

H.   W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  No.f  is  very  poor  as  it 
stands.  I  would  make  it  up  as  follows.  Whatever 
you  want  to  tahe  out,  you  can  take  from  Miss  Lynn. 
The  punctuation  and  dashing  of  whose  story  require 
particular  attention. 

"  A  Little  More  Harmony."  :j: 

''  Catchpennies"  (without  the  chip  heading). 

"  Pastimes  and  Plays." 

"■  Lile  Jack  "  (new  name  on  the  proof). 

"  Faithful  Margaret  "  (Miss  Lynn). 

"  More  Splendid  than  a  Badger." 

"  Back  Ways  to  Fame." 

Of  the  omitted  articles,  I  have  to  observe :  First  of 
Sidney's,  that  it  is  such  careless  slip-slop  as  to  be 
almost  unintelligible,  and  quite  unsuitable  unless  the 
second  part  be  much  better ;  secondly  of  the  poem, 

•  Chauncy  Hare  Townshcnd,  a  valuc<l  fricnrl  of  Dickens.  lie  died  in 
1868,  and  bequeathed  to  Dickcn.s  for  selection  and  publication  some  papers 
on  reli^'ious  belief.     They  were  published  in  a  volume  in  18r>l>. 

t  The  number  for  August  l!)tli. 

X  By  Sala. 


1854]  ANOTHER  METEOR  FLAG.  137 

that  there  is  absolutely  nothing  whatever  in  it ;  and 
thirdly,  of  the  ''  Eoving  Englishman  "  that  it  is  of  the 
same  order,  besides  being  conceited — and  consequently 
had  better  be  distributed  at  once. 

Sala  is  very  good.  Don't  run  him  too  close  in 
the  money  way.  I  can't  bear  the  thought  of  making 
anything  like  a  hard  bargain  with  him. 

If  you  have  received  copy  from  Mrs.  Gaskell  (as  I 
suppose  you  have  by  this  time)  add  the  advertisement 
I  sent  you  to  this  Number. 

I  am  turning  the  Xmas  No.  in  my  mind. 

And  am  very  anxious  to  know  whether  Morley  has 
really  come  into  his  fortune. 

''  Hard  Times." 

I  was  vexed  to  see  in  the  Examiner  the  advertise- 
ment of  the  H.  ]]\  volume,  with  tlie  parenthesis  in 
it  which  I  took  out.  I  suppose  it  stood  in  all  the 
weekly  papers  ?      Surely  there  was  time  to  correct  it. 

Generalities. 

The  Meteor  Flag  was  received  with  rapture  and  is 
now  flying  at  the  Masthead — to  the  honour  and 
glorj^  of  England,  and  the  confusion  of  the  thief. 

I  have  had  a  violent  cold  in  my  right  ear,  and  am 
executing  the  present  act  of  correspondence  with  my 
head  tied  up.  Had  poppy-heads  at  a  boiling  tempera- 
ture appended  to  my  own  imaginative  sconce,  all  day 
yesterday. 

I  have  a  notion  of  an  article  for  H.  W.  (by  myself, 
to  be  called  "  It  is  not  Generally  Known  ")*  for  wliich 
I  want  somel)ody  to  go  over  the  file  of  The  Times,  and 
note   in    the    Debates    every  night    all   through   the 

*  Ilimscliold  Words,  September  2nd. 


138  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

Session,  every  personal  attack  and  personal  discussion 
between  Hon.  Mems. — who  they  were — on  what  night 
it  happened — and  what  it  was  about.  The  fewest 
words  of  description  will  suffice  for  me.  Now  do 
you  think  you  can  get  me  such  a  thing  done,  at 
once  ?     Otherwise  the  article  would  be  out  of  date. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Villa  du  Camp  de  Droite,  Boulogne, 

Wednesday,  Ninth  August,  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  would  decidedly  put  in  the 
advertisement  of  "  North  and  South."  Then  I  would 
write  to  Mrs.  Gaskell,  saying  that  you  had  heard  from 
me  you  were  to  receive  a  batch  of  MS.  for  press ;  and 
that  not  having  done  so,  you  were  uneasy  (fearing  it 
might  have  miscarried)  and  therefore  wrote  to  say 
none  had  come  to  hand. 

I  will  not  maintain  my  opinion  of  the  volume- 
advertisement  against  yours  and  Evans's  united. 
But  I  should  like  it  better,  if  the  parenthesis  were 
not  so  excessively  demonstrative,  and  stood  simply 
thus  :   (containing  Hard  Times). 

Sorry  to  hear  that  there  is  not  so  much  personality 
on  record  as  I  had  hoped  for,  because  it  may  damage 
the  idea  of  the  article.  But  Nil  Desperandum  !  You 
may  find  more  as  you  advance  in  your  labors. 

I  wish  you  would  send  friend  Barnard  here,  a  set 
of  Household  Words  in  a  paid  parcel  (on  the  other  side 
is  an  inscription  to  be  neatly  posted  into  Vol.  I. 
before  sending)  with  a  post  letter  beforehand  from 
yourself,  saying  that  I  had  begged  you  to  forward 


1854]  A   rOEM.  139 

the  books :  feeling  so  much  obliged  to  him  for  his 
uniform  attention  and  politeness.  Also,  that  you 
will  not  fail  to  continue  his  set,  as  successive  volumes 
appear.* 

Your  account  on  Bradbury  authority  of  the  Volume 
is  capital. 

I 

think  that's  all  at  present. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Villa  du  Camp  de  Droite,  Boulogne, 

Saturday,  Twelfth  August,  1854. 

Inclosures. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  is  a  letter  for  John  in 
the  parcel,  also  a  letter  for  Evans,  also  the  Barnard 
inscription.  The  rest  are  for  the  post  ;  the  American 
letter  to  be  paid. 

H.  W. 

A  much  better  No.  than  the  two  or  three  last. 

I  enclose  a  list  of  the  new  names,  involving  one 
change  in  the  order  of  the  articles.  I  have  bothered 
and  worried  at  the  Poem  (which  is  neither  English, 
nor  verse)  hoping  to  make  something  of  it,  but  have 
not  succeeded  after  all.  Strike  it  out.  If  I  can  fuse 
into  it  an  idea  I  have  of  its  natural  end,  you  shall 
have  it  in  the  next  parcel.  If  you  hear  no  more  of  it, 
give  it  up  as  unmendable. 

I  am  not  sure  whether  we  have  used  the  title, 
"A  Flight  with  the  Birds."  If  we  have,  call  the 
paper  "  Wings  and  Toes."  f     But  the  name  I  liave 

*  Tliis  paragraph  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  Ill,  as  forming  part  of  the 
supposed  letter  of  August  7th,  ISoS. 

f  "Wings  and  Toes,"  bj'  Hepworth  Dixon,  IIt»(.schold  IVoidx,  August  26th 


140  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

given  it  is  a  much  better  one  if  I  have  not  used 
it  before. 

Leave  three  pages — or  a  column  less — open  for  me 
in  the  next  No.  I  will  write  an  article  at  once,  and 
post  it  to  you.  Of  course  I  would  do  anything  I 
could,  to  make  your  holiday  the  easier  and  longer. 
Therefore,  count  upon  me  for  two  articles  (which  will 
relieve  you  of  the  first  article  for  two  numbers)  in  the 
intervening  time.  You  shall  have  the  first  one — 
probably  on  Tuesday.  The  second,  I  will  buckle  to 
as  soon  as  Townshend  shall  be  gone  from  here.  lie 
comes,  that  day.  ^ 

Guild. 

It  is  discouraging  and  vexatious,  that  the  men 
should  be  so  unreasonable — though  I  think  the 
National  Provident  very  like  the-as-yet-unchanged- 
man  in  not  making  it  easier  to  the  members  of  the 
Council.  As  to  Forster,  if  he  ever  makes  that 
rheumatic  remark  to  me,  I'll  choke  him  with  a  highly 
indigestible  piece  of  my  mind. 

Holiday. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  hear,  as  soon  as  you  know, 
whether  you  arrange  to  come  with  Mrs.  Ilorne  on  tlie 
28th.  If  not,  I  must  meet  her  at  Folkestone,  for  I 
would  not  on  any  account  that  she  should  lose  a  day 
of  her  short  vacation  after  her  hard  work.  Neither 
must  she  be  allowed  to  pay  her  own  charges. 

I 

write  in  a  hurr}^  to  get  the  parcel  off. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


185i]  "NORTH   AND   SOUTH."  Ill 

Boulogne, 

Saturdmjj  Nineteenth  Augustj  1854. 

H.   W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  over  the  No.* 
and  now  return  it.  Look  to  the  punctuation  of  Miss 
Martineau  and  Miss  Lynn. 

I  don't  see  anything  in  the  "  Children  in  the 
Wood  "  except  a  power  of  making  nothing  out  of  a 
most  beautiful  story.  The  enclosed  little  poem  by 
Townshendf  is  far  better  (I  have  two  more  in  hand), 
and  will  improve  the  No.  as  a  substitution  for  the 
present. 

It  is  clear  that  "  North  and  South  "  must  begin  at 
the  top  of  page  61 — and  on  Mrs.  Gaskell's  title  page 
(now  in  her  possession)  there  is  a  motto  from  Tenny- 
son, wliich  I  think  ought  to  be  prefixed  to  it.  Will 
you  write  and  ask  her  for  it  immediately. 

It  must  always  be  resumed  on  the  top  of  that 
page. 

I  am  alarmed  by  the  quantity  of  "  North  and 
South."  It  is  not  objectionable  for  a  beginning,  but 
would  become  so  in  the  progress  of  a  not  compactly 
written  and  artfully  devised  story.  It  suggests  to 
me  (but  I  may  be  wrong)  that  the  Whitefriars 
castiug-off  was  incorrect.  Therefore  will  you  do 
what  follows. 

The  enclosed  key  is  the  key  of  the  round  writing 
table  in  my  study.  In  the  drawer  of  that  table, 
facing  you  as  you  stand  looking  at  the  table,  in  front 
of  it  with  your  back  towards  the  windows,  are  two 
bunches  of  keys.     One  has  only  three  cellar  keys 

*  The  number  for  September  2ncl.     Mrs.  Gaskell's  "  North  and  South  " 
began  in  it. 
t  *'  The  True  Voice,"  by  Townshcnd,  appeared  September  9th. 


U2  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

which  you  have  nothing  to  do  with  (unless  you  are 
thirsty) ;  the  other  is  a  bunch  of  several  keys.  When 
you  have  found  Avhich  key  on  that  bunch  will  open 
the  drawers  of  the  writiag  table  with  the  cabinet  on 
it,  by  which  I  always  sit  to  work  and  on  which  my 
envelope  case  always  stands  when  I  am  at  home, 
apply  that  key  to  the  third  drawer  from  the  top, 
nearest  to  the  fireplace,  and  in  that  drawer  you  will 
find  a  rough  slip  of  notes  in  my  writing,  concerning 
the  divisions  of  Mrs.  Gaskell's  story :  and  (if  I  do  not 
mistake)  a  note  from  yourself,  stating  the  Whitefriars 
estimate  of  quantity.  If  you  cannot  read  my  notes 
for  your  own  guidance,  let  me  have  them  in  the  next 
parcel ;  and  at  any  rate  bring  them  when  you  come. 

I  will  go  to  work,  please  God,  on  my  new  article, 
next  Monday. 

General  News. 

We  have  had  three  short  but  strange  illnesses  here 
— two  among  the  women  servants  and  the  third  last 
night  in  Georgina,  who  seemed  to  be  suddenly 
attacked  with  tic  in  the  head,  but  is  greatly  better 
this  morning.  The  rest  of  the  story  when  you  come. 
I  enclose  some  letters  for  the  post. 
Cooper  and  his  charges  came  to  hand  last  night. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Villa  du  Camp  de  Droite,  Boulogne, 

Sunday,  Tiventieth  Auffiist,  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  perfectly  plain  to  me  that 
if  we  put  in  more,  every  week,  of  ''  North  and  South  " 


1854]         "LEGAL   AND   EQUITABLE  JOKES."  143 

than  we  did  of  "  Hard  Times,"  we  shall  ruin  Household 
Words.    Therefore  it  must  at  all  hazards  be  kept  down. 

I  hope  the  first  portion  is  not  printed  "  Part "  I. 
It  ought  to  be  "Chapter."  The  amount  you  have 
got  into  233  is  quite  out  of  the  question.  But  this  is 
the  part  from  which  a  great  deal  was  to  be  taken  out. 
You  may  possibly  have  received  the  Proof  from  Mrs. 
Gaskell  so  altered.  But  in  case  you  should  not  have 
received  it,  I  wrote  to  her  by  this  post,  begging  her 
to  send  you  the  cut  down  proof  immediately. 

Sala's  "  Sunday  Out,"*  is  poor  enough. 

I  will  return  the  No.  —  probably  by  tomorrow's 
boat. 

You 

will  let  me  know  in  the  course  of  the  week,  how  you 
decide  to  come  on  Monday  the  28th,  so  that  we  may 
be  on  the  look-out  for  you. 


write  hastily  :  having  several  letters  to  despatch. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Boulogne, 

Wednesday,  Tiuenty -third  August,  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Deah  Wills  : — I  send  you  my  second  article,  f 
A  new  subject  with  us,  and  founded  upon  some 
excellent  evidence  you  forwarded  to  me  a  little  while 
ago,  in  reference  to  the  county  courts. 

*  In  tho  issue  of  September  9th. 

t  "Legal  and  Equitable  Jokes,"  printed  in  Household  Words,  September 
23rd.  I 


144  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

The  enclosed  from  M^^s.  Gaskell,  I  received  this 
morning.  Don't  run  beyond  the  present  end  of  the 
second  part,  whatever  she  takes  out.  She  can't  take 
out  too  much.  And  bring  me  all  of  her  story  that  is 
in  proof,  with  you. 

C.  D. 

Will  you  tell  John  to  take  from  the  bottom  drawer 
of  my  wardrobe  in  my  dressing  room  at  home,  the  red 
shirts  and  the  buff  shirts,  and  to  ask  Mrs.  Wills  (on 
his  knees)  if  she  can  find  a  place  to  pack  them  in, 
when  she  comes  over  ?  Fui'ther,  will  you  bring  me 
a  little  bottle  of  our  friend  Sainsbury's  essence  of 
ginger — and  as  large  a  bottle  as  you  can  stow  away 
anywhere,  of  Burnett's  Disinfecting  Fluid  ? 

Xmas  No. 
We  will,  please  God,  settle  together  here. 

All 
well.     I  expected  to  have  heard  from  you. 

Weatheh 
charming.     With  cool  breezes. 


Ever 


Faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Evans  has  again  made  me  overdraw  my  account,  by 
not  paying  the  "  Hard  Times"  money.  I  was  inexpres- 
sibly vexed  to  receive  Coutts's  notice  this  morning, 
and  have  written  to  Whitefriars. 


1854]  CASTING   OFF.  145 

P.S.  Your  P.S.  informs  me  that  all  the  45  Cols, 
are  set  up.  If  they  are  in  your  parcel,  I  will  divide 
them  and  return  them  with  this  proof. 

Boulogne, 

Thursday  J  Twenty -Fourth  August,  1854, 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  seems  to  me  to  be  far 
less  difficulty  about  Mrs.  Gaskell's  story  than  you 
suppose.  You  know  what  we  want  in  a  No.  You 
can  have  of  the  45  columns  as  much  set  up  as  will 
make  about  2  Nos.  and  send  it  to  me  to  divide.  As 
to  waiting  for  the  Proofs,  it  simply  cannot  be  done. 
You  must  tell  Mrs.  Gaskell,  in  so  many  words,  when 
you  must  have  the  proof  back,  or  go  to  Press  without 
it.  As  to  Forster,  put  him  entirely  out  of  the  ques- 
tion and  leave  the  settlement  of  any  such  dispute  to 
me  :  saying  to  him  merely  that  it  was  necessary  to  go 
to  press,  and  that  I  persisted  in  going  to  press,  (See 
P.S.  above,) 

The  real  difficulty  is  in  the  reckless  casting-off  at 
Whitefriars,  and  upon  this  point  I  must  beg  you  to 
make,  from  me,  a  grave  representation  that  it  is 
impossible  to  proceed  if  such  tricks  are  played  with 
us.  When  I  read  the  beginning  of  this  story  of 
Mrs.  Gaskell's,  I  felt  that  its  means  of  being  of  service 
or  disservice  to  us,  mainly  lay  in  its  capacity  of  being 
divided  at  such  points  of  interest  as  it  possesses. 
Pejecting  my  own  estimate  on  that  subject,  I  referred 
it  to  them,  the  Printers  (of  course)  for  a  correct  one. 
A  statement  was  furnished  to  me  in  reply,  which 
turns  out  to  be  entirely  wrong.  If  I  had  known  how 
it   was   to   turn   out,  and  that   when   they  said   in 

D.E.  L 


146  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

Whitefriars  "white,"  they  meant  "black,"  or  when 
they  said  "Ten"  meant  "Twenty,"  I  could  not,  in 
my  senses,  have  accepted  the  story.  I  want  to  know 
what  the  Masters  in  Whitefriars  say  to  this  mode  of 
doing  business.  It  is  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference 
to  me  what  anybody  else  says.  They  enter  into  a 
certain  agreement  with  us,  upon  their  fidelity  and 
exactness  in  discharging  which,  we  rely.  I  want  to 
know  what  they  say  to  not  discharging  it  and  to 
shirking  and  shuffling  it  off,  anyhow.  And  I  say  to 
them  that  I  am  perfectly  convinced  there  is  not 
another  house  in  the  trade  to  which  I  could  refer  a 
question  so  vital  to  a  periodical,  who  would  lazily 
mislead  me  altogether. 

You  will  have  received  an  article  from  me  this 
morning.  You  have  in  hand  the  "  Eastern  Tale  "  you 
think  so  well  of  (I  have  not  seen  it  yet,  the  parcel 
not  having  arrived),  and  (I  suppose)  other  available 
matter.  Can't  you  make  up  another  No.  at  once; 
assuming  "  North  and  South  "  not  to  exceed  an  average 
portion  of  "  Hard  Times  "  by  more  than  a  column  or 
two  ?  Then,  if  you  bring  another  No.  with  you,  surely 
you  will  be  easy  and  well  beforehand. 

I  am  unspeakably  vexed  by  all  this  needless  trouble 
and  bewilderment.  There  is  no  more  reason  for  it, 
than  there  is  for  a  calomel  pill  on  the  top  of  the  Cross 
of  St.  Paul's. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
Boulogne, 

IVmrsday  NiglU,  Twenty-first  Septr.j  1854. 
//.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  you  the  No.  which  is 
a  verj'^  fair   one.     Some  of  Mrs.   Gaskell's  dialogue 


1854]  CIGARETTES.  147 

open  to  criticism,  but  I  will  not  bring  a  correspondence 
upon  you  by  touching  it. 

To  "  Holidays  at  Madame  Grondet's  "  ^ — yes.  I 
have  altered  it  a  little  here  and  there,  and  return  the 
proof. 

Costello  really  good. 

Self  and  Family. 

Mary  is  quite  well  again,  thank  God,  and  has  never 
had  the  slightest  unfavourable  symptom  since  she 
turned  the  awful  corner. 

I  enclose  a  letter  to  be  posted  for  Augustus. | 

In  your  next  parcel  will  you  send  me  the  2nd 
edition  of  Forster's  Goldsmith  from  the  last  bookcase 
against  the  wall  opposite  the  fireplace,  in  my  study. 
If  I  remember,  it  is  on  the  second  shelf  from  the 
mahogany  slab  outside  the  glass — on  the  second  above 
it,  I  mean. 

I  have  nearly  exhausted  the  cigarettes  I  brought 
here.  "Will  you  use  the  enclosed  key  to  open  the 
drawer  in  the  round  table  you  opened  before — take 
out  the  same  bunch  as  before — find  another  key  on  it, 
that  opens  the  corresponding  table  nearest  to  the 
drawing  room — and  in  a  drawer  (I  think  the  middle 
drawer  on  the  lefthand  side,  nearest  to  the  sliding 
book-door)  you  will  find  a  cigar  box  with  bundles  of 
cigarettes  in  it.  If  you  take  out  4,  tell  John  to  put 
them  in  some  little  common  box,  go  to  the  Herald 
Office,  and  ask  Beard  if  he  will  bring  them  over ;  he 
will  doubtless  do  so,  unless  he  should  have  already 


•  This  appeared  on  October  2l8t.      There  had  been  a  previous  article, 
"  Matiame  Grondet's,"  on  September  23rd.    They  were  written  by  Miss  Lee. 
■\  His  youngest  brother. 

L    '2 


148  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

left  to  come  to  us.     In  that  case,  please  send  them  in 
your  next  parcel. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills,  faithfully  yours, 

CD. 

Boulogne, 

Monday,  Tiventy -Fifth  September,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  reall}^  am  quite  shocked  and 
ashamed  on  looking  at  the  new  No.  to  find  nothing  in 
it  appropriate  to  the  memorable  time.  I  have  written 
a  little  paper  "To  Working  Men,"*  which  I  hope 
may  do  good,  and  I  send  it  to  you  enclosed. 

But  I  am  so  painfully  impressed  with  a  sense  of 
our  being  frivolous  that  if  you  have  not  already  got 
TO  PRESS  WITH  No.  237,  I  entreat  you  to  unmake  it  and 
put  this  article  first.  Forster  will  correct  it,  if  you  give 
him  the  copy,  quite  accurately  I  am  sure ;  therefore 
it  would  only  involve  a  delay  of  a  few  hours.  Even 
if  but  a  few  237's  were  printed,  it  would  be  better  to 
cancel  them — stop — and  get  this  paper  in. 

No.  238  and  the  parcel,  I  will  send  by  tomorrow 
morning's  boat. 

In  haste,  ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

Boulogne, 

Monday  Night,  Twenty-Fifth  September,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  over  the  No. — 
which  is  so  badly  printed  and  so  villainously  read, 
that  I  have  been  obliged  to  query  here  and  there  ;  the 
sense  being  somewhere  else. 

*  An  appeal  to  working  men  to  insist  on  better  sanitary  conditions.  It 
was  printed  in  Ilmiseludd  Words  of  Octolwr  7th.  The  recent  visitation  of 
cholera  had  caused  more  than  20,000  deaths  in  England  and  Wales. 


1854]  MORE   "WHOLE   HOG."  149 

"The  Ghost  of  Pit  Pond  "  *  is  not  the  thing  for  a 
first  article. 

Morley  has  done  what  he  could  for  the  "  Cookery,"  f 
but  it  is  inherently  conceited  and  stupid.  I  went 
over  it  before  reading  the  "  Conscript "  article,  and  put 
in  a  clause  respecting  the  inferior  strength  of  the 
French  people  as  compared  with  the  English.  Now, 
do  look  at  those  two  articles,  with  a  reference  to  the 
consistency  and  reliability  of  the  Journal  in  which 
they  appear  !  Says  "  Cookery,"  the  wonderful 
Maltese  labourers  (whom  I  don't  in  the  least  believe 
in)  live  on  coarse  barley  bread.  Says  "  Cookery  " 
further,  English  people  neglect  oatmeal.  Says  "  Con- 
script," French  soldiers  live  on  barley  and  oats,  and 
are  therefore  below  the  mark  !  The  whole  bestiality 
of  the  "  Cookery  "  thing,  from  first  to  last,  being — 
dull  whole  Hog.:}:  Not  content  with  showing  that  we 
might  improve  our  commonest  cookery,  cheaply,  and 
make  enforced  short  commons  at  least  savoury,  it  sets 
up  the  notorious  short-comings  and  weaknesses  of 
other  countries  as  a  model  for  us,  and  is  more  ignorant 
of  the  enormous  difference  made  by  the  diJfferent 
requirements  of  different  climates,  than  the  Plornish 
Maroon  is.  Moreover,  the  exaggerated  praise  of  the 
meatless  dishes  is  done  in  a  wooden-headed  ignorance 
of  the  English  ways  of  thinking,  which  is  a  recipe 
for  raising  up  antagonism — the  only  sound  recipe  in 
the  paper.  I  don't  even  find  in  it  the  common  humble 
usefulness  of  the  Liebig  recipe  for  making  beef  tea. 
Ex-gra  :  Steep  a  pound  of  beef  in  a  pint  of  cold 
water,  for  four  hours.  Then  put  the  beef  and  water 
on  a  brisk  fire  for  a  few  minutes  until  they  begin  to 

*  By  Dudley  Costello,  October  7tli. 

t  I  cannot  trace  this  article. 

X  See  note  to  letter  of  August  10th,  1861. 


150  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1854 

bubble  and  boil.  Then  take  them  off,  and  let  them 
stand  until  cool,  when  the  beef  is  to  be  taken  out.  It 
will  be  found  by  that  time  to  have  deposited  its  utmost 
virtue  in  the  water — which  is  the  strongest  and  most 
nutritious  beef  tea  that  can  possibly  be  made. 

I  think  this  bit  of  common  sense  might  be  insinuated 
into  the  article — when  you  soften  down  the  points  so 
glaringly  objectionable. 

There  are  6  &c.'s  in  the  compass  of  one  column  of 
the  Chinese  Francis  Moore.* 

The  Poem  is  a  thousand  times  worse  than  nothing 
and  won't  do. 

Guild. 

I  return  the  cheque  book,  with  several  cheques 
sifjned. 

Home. 

All  quite  well,  thank  God.  The  Theatre  took  fire 
yesterday  at  about  half  past  eleven,  and  is  burnt  down. 
Weather,  cool,  bright,  and  delicious.  Empress  arrived 
this  afternoon. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Boulogne, 

Friday,  Twenty -ninth  Scptcmhcr,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  somehow  lost  a  day,  and  con- 
ceived— indeed,  still  mistily  believe — that  I  sent  you 
the  "  Address  to  Working  Men "  on  the  Monday 
Night.  The  No.  will  be  greatly  improved  by  the 
changes  you  mention. 

Evans  will  bring  you  this,  and  two  letters  for  the 

*  "  Francis  Moore  in  Cliina,"  October  1 1th,  by  Mylnc,  according  to  the 
Office  Book. 


1854]  MANCHESTER  MANUFACTURERS.  151 

post,  enclosed,  and  one  for  Forster.  Will  you  pay  the 
enclosed  £10  0.  10.  at  your  convenience,  and  ask  at 
the  same  time  how  many  Terms  I  have  to  keep  before 
being  qualified  to  be  called  ?  *  I  have  no  belief  what- 
ever that  I  shall  ever  keep  them  now ;  but  I  should 
like — for  the  gratification  of  an  innocent  curiosity — to 
know  how  many  I  have  kept,  after  all  the  boredom 
I  have  suffered  in  that  noble  Institution  of  my  country. 

Mr.  Gaskell's  letter  raises  a  rather  difficult  ques- 
tion. I  think  I  would  reply  to  him  that  Mrs.  Gaskell 
is  free  to  act  in  the  matter — so  far  as  we  are  concerned 
— as  she  thinks  best ;  always  supposing  that  her  pre- 
cautions as  to  time,  render  it  impossible  that  whatever 
she  sends  out  there  in  advance,  can  get  back  here, 
before  its  ordinary  publication  here.  But  I  would 
add  that  we  (I,  if  you  like)  think  it  very  doubtful 
whether  she  would  ever  derive  any  pecuniary  benefit 
from  such  an  arrangement  which  would  counterbalance 
the  risk  of  such  a  transaction  with  such  people. 

Wonderful  fine  weather  here.  Kindest  regards 
from  all. 

Ke verting  to  H.  W.,  I  observed  a  paragraph, 
either  in  the  Examiner  or  the  Illustrated  London 
News  the  other  day,  to  the  effect  that  there 
had  been  "  a  large  and  influential  meeting  at  Man- 
chester" with  a  view  to  the  prevention  of  Boiler 
explosions,  and  their  consequent  injuries  to  workpeople. 
Now,  as  we  opened  that  subject,  plainly  and  boldly, 
we  ought  to  pursue  it ;  commending  the  Manufac- 
turers for  any  endeavour  in  that  wise  that  deserves 
commendation,  and  enforcing  the  principle  of  the 
workpeople  being  always  protected  from  accident,  by 

*  Dickens  entered  his  nume  as  ;i  student  :it  tlie  Middle  Temple  in  1839, 
but  did  not  eat  dinners  till  many  years  later.     "  Life,"  I.,  IGO,  1(53. 


152  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

every  human  precaution.  By  losing  or  delaying  so 
apposite  an  occasion  for  pursuing  a  subject  we  have 
opened,  we  lose  a  chance  and  waste  our  power. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


Villa  du  Camp  de  Droite,  Boulogne, 

Wednesdmj,  October  Fourth j  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  quite  clear  that 
Mr.  Carleton's  request  cannot  be  complied  with. 
I  think  it  will  be  best  for  you  to  reply  that  you 
have  forwarded  his  letter  to  me,  as  he  requested ;  and 
that  you  write,  as  if  I  wrote,  participating  in  the  pain 
I  should  myself  feel  in  having  to  convey  to  him  the 
assurance  that  the  publication  is  burdened  with  as 
much  expense  in  the  way  of  such  advance,  as  it  can 
possibly  bear ;  and  that,  in  the  discharge  of  my  first 
duty  towards  my  fellow  proprietors,  I  cannot  increase 
the  outlay. 

I  am   very   much   afraid  that   whatever  business 

comes  within  Mr.  H. 's  sphere  of  action  must  be 

very  badly  done.  It  is  important  to  see  to  this.  It 
is  not  likely  that  other  people  are  punctually  and  pre- 
cisely dealt  with,  if  I  am  not.  Besides  the  absurd 
way  in  which  I  have  received  our  numbers  through 
the  whole  summer — getting  the  stamped  edition,  over 
and  over  again,  by  post,  on  the  very  day  after,  or  on 
the  day  but  one  after,  I  have  received  a  parcel  which 
should  have  contained  the  unstamped  No. — I  have  at 
this  moment  not  received  the  last  iveek^s  No.  at  all  (I 
don't  speak  of  to-day's — last  week's)  and  have  had 
two  "  Narratives." 


1854]  THE   EMPRESS  EUGENIE.  153 

There  is  a  suggestion  of  bungling  and  messing  in 
all  this,  which  alarms  me.  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
a  man  who  does  one  part  of  a  plain  business  ill,  and 
the  rest  well. 

I  will  return  you  Carleton's  letter  when  I  return  the 
parcel  now  to  come. 

Guild. 

I  have  not  executed  the  Warrant  of  Attorney, 
because  the  Consul  is  an  old  fool  (and  a  Scotch  fool) 
and  I  hate  to  go  to  him.  I  suppose  I  shall  be  home 
in  about  a  fortnight.  Will  that  do  ?  If  you  really 
want  it  sooner — why  then  I  must  encounter  the 
Scotchman,  very  much  against  my  will. 

Sebastopol. 

The  announcement*  of  its  being  taken,  at  the 
Review  here  last  Saturday,  was  very  fine.  We  were 
very  near  the  Emperor  and  Empress,  and  she  kissed 
the  dispatch  (she  is  a  pretty,  graceful,  slight  little 
woman)  in  a  very  natural  and  good  way.  It  is  extra- 
ordinary to  know  through  the  evidence  of  one's  own 
senses,  however,  that  the  personal  enthusiasm  and 
devotion  of  the  Troops,  is  enormously  exaggerated  in 
the  London  papers.  Their  coldness  was,  to  me, 
astonishing — so  much  so,  as  to  be,  under  all  the 
circumstances,  almost  iri'itating. 

Egg  and  Mustek  Beard 
beg  to  be  kindly  remembered. 

All  the  Family 

ditto,  and  all  well. 

Ever  faitlif uUy, 

CD. 

*  a  premature  announcement. 


'J 


154  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

Boulogne, 

Saturday,  October  Fourteenth^  1854. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Eather  a  gloomy  No.  Miss 
Martineau  pretty  well,  but  grimly  bent  upon  the 
enlightenment  of  mankind,  and  quite  absurdly  over- 
doing American  Education.  I  have  taken  out  that 
passage  about  paper  instantly  rising  20  per  cent,  if 
the  Newspaper  Stamp  were  taken  off,  for  I  think  it 
a  hazardous  assumption  to  broach  so  very  positively. 

Dodd  as  bad  as  need  be.     Nothing  in  it. 

We  are  better  without  a  Poem  than  with  a  Poem 
without  an  idea.     Don't  put  in  "  The  Best." 

It  appears  to  me  that  this  is  not  only  a  very  bad 
No.  for  Miss  Lynn's  paper,*  but  a  very  bad  time. 
Somehow,  this  Balzac-imitation  in  poking  a  little 
knife  into  the  social  peculiarities  of  France  seems 
ungraceful,  ungracious,  and  inopportune  just  now. 
We  can't  afford  to  make  mistakes  which  people  feel 
to  be  mistakes  almost  without  knowing  why.  "  Mars 
k  la  Mode  "  f  comes  painfully  upon  the  Battle  Field 
accounts  in  The  Times ;  and  as  I  don't  think  that  an 
Englishman  wants  to  dissect  a  Frenchman's  love,  at 
present,  I  would  rather  say  nothing  about  France 
unless  I  had  plenty  to  say  about  its  gallantry  and 
spirit.  I  cannot  remember  the  subject  of  the  paper 
I  returned  you  in  proof  last  week ;  marked  No.  1 — 
but  it  would  be  much  better  than  Miss  Lynn. 
I  have  a  confidence  in  this  "  French  Love  "  awaken- 
ing a  vague  impression  of  our  being  ill-conditioned 
and  inopportune.     Pay  for  it,  and  let  it  stand  over. 

*  Apparently  cntitletl  "  French  Love."     It  was  not  published, 
f  In  the  number  of  October  14th,  by  Sala. 


1854]  A   DROP   IN   THE   SALE.  155 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  Sale  dropping,  but  I  am 
not  surprised.  Mrs.  Gaskell's  story,  so  divided,  is 
wearisome  in  the  last  degree.  It  would  have  scant 
attraction  enough  if  the  casting  in  Whitefriars  had 
been  correct ;  but  thus  wire-drawn  it  is  a  dreary 
business.  Never  mind  !  I  am  ready  to  come  up  to 
the  scratch  on  my  return,  and  to  shoulder  the  wheel. 

Family. 

All  well.  I  hope  to  be  at  Tavistock  IIousc  about 
midnight  on  Tuesday. 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

Possibly  the  note  marked  "Lady  Dell"  may 
suggest  a  subject  for  Morley.  Iler  brother  is  Sir 
Charles  Shaw,  for  many  years  the  first  surgeon  at  the 
Middlesex  Ilospital.  She  lives  with  him.  If  you 
want  the  Keport  alluded  to,  write  to  him  for  it. 


Tavistock  House, 

Friday  Night,  Twenty-seventh  October,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  of 
your  poor  Mother's  death.  What  you  said  last  night 
had  prepared  me  to  receive  the  sad  news  ;  and  when 
I  was  told  of  a  messenger  being  sent  here  to  enquire 
for  you  this  morning,  I  felt  that  the  end  was  come. 

Don't  worry  yourself  about  a  first  article  for  the 
next  No.     I  will  have  one  ready,  please  God. 

Mrs.  Dickens  and  Georgina  unite  with  me  in  kindest 
regards  to  Mrs.  Wills.  Pray  let  me  say  that  if  in  this 
sudden  emergency  you  want  any  ready  money,  I  shall 
consider  it  a  breach  of  the  confidence  and  friendship 


156  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1854 

between  us,  if  you  seek  it  in  any  quarter  where  you 
have  to  pay  interest  for  it. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 

OFFICE  OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Mondmj,  November  Twentieth,  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  has  occurred  to  me  that  I  am 
rather  strong  on  Voyages  and  Camiibalism,  and  might 
do  an  interesting  little  paper  for  next  No.  on  that  part 
of  Dr.  Eae's  report ;  taking  the  arguments  against  its 
probabilities.  Can  you  get  me  a  newspaper  cutting 
containing  his  report  ?  If  not,  will  you  have  it 
copied  for  me  and  sent  up  to  Tavistock  House  straight- 
way.* 

I  don't  know  what  Forster  quite  expects  to  ensue 
from  "  Mr.  Bull's  Somnambulist,''  f  but,  I  think,  the 
Downfall  of  the  Ministry  at  least. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Tavistock  IIouse, 

Monday^  Twenty-seventh  November j  1854. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — As  I  have  liad  a  letter  from  no 
less  a  person  than  Leigh  Hunt  (!)  asking  me  to  give 
him  something  soft  to  eat  to-morrow,  let  us  dine  at 
the  office,  if  convenient  to  you,  on  Wednesday — a  day 
later  than  our  usual  day. 

*  Two  articles  on  "  The  Lost  Arctic  Voycagcrs  "  (Sir  John  Frankhn  and 
his  party)  were  written  by  Dickens,  and  appeareti  in  Ilouxelutld  Words, 
December  2nd  and  9th. 

f  By  Dickens,  llomehold  Words,  November  25th. 


1855]  "LITTLE   BORRTT."  157 

Do  you  think  you  can  manage  to  discover  by  any 
means  where  Lady  Franklin  is  now  ?  I  should  like 
to  send  her  those  articles,  when  I  have  revised  the 
second  one.  Ever  faithfully, 

C.   D. 

1855. 

In  February  Dickens  spent  a  short  time  in  Paris 
with  Wilkie  Collins.  In  July  he  was  at  Folkestone, 
where  he  remained  till  October,  and  where  he  began 
to  write  "  Little  Dorrit."  Thence  he  took  his  family 
to  Paris.  In  December  he  rushed  back  to  England  (he 
writes  to  Mrs.  Watson  on  December  23rd  from  Tavi- 
stock House:  "  Letters,"  I.,  412)  in  order  to  give  read- 
ings at  Peterborough  and  Sheffield.  The  end  of  the 
year  saw  him  back  in  Paris. 

The  "little  Freehold"  about  which  he  writes  to 
Wills  on  February  9th  was  not  Gad's  Hill,  but  a 
house  opposite  to  it.  The  negotiations  for  the  pur- 
chase of  this  house  came  to  nothing.  Later  in  the 
year,  having  discovered  that  Gad's  Hill  (which 
belonged  to  Miss  Lynn)  was  for  sale,  he  opened 
negotiations,  and  in  tho  following  year  bought  it. 

In  a  letter  of  November  16th  Dickens  suggests  to 
Wills  that  he  should  become  secretary  and  almoner 
to  Miss  Coutts.  Wills  was  eventually,  as  will  have 
been  seen,  appointed  to  this  position  and  filled  it  for 
many  years. 

OFFICE    OF    HOUSEHOLD    WOEDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  condiuited  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 

Friday,  Ninth  February,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  want  to  alter  our  arrangements 
tomorrow,  and  put  you  to  some  inconvenience. 


158  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1855 

When  I  was  at  Gravesend  t'other  day,  I  saw,  at 
Gad's  Hill — just  opposite  to  the  Hermitage  where 
your  charmer  Miss  Lynn  used  to  live — a  little  Free- 
hold to  be  sold.  The  spot  and  the  very  house  are 
literally  "  a  dream  of  my  childhood,"  and  I  should 
like  to  look  at  it  before  I  go  to  Paris.  With  that 
purpose  I  must  go  to  Strood  by  the  North  Kent  at 
^  past  10  tomorrow  morning.  And  I  want  you, 
strongly  booted,  to  go  with  me  !  (I  have  the  particu- 
lars from  the  Agent.) 

Can  you  ? — Let  me  know.  If  you  can,  can  you 
manage  so  that  we  can  take  the  Proofs  with  us  ?  If 
you  can't,  will  you  bring  them  to  Tavistock  House 
at  dinner  time  to-morrow,  ^  past  5.  Forster  will 
dine  with  us,  but  no  one  else. 

I  am  uncertain  of  your  being  in  town  tonight,  but 
I  send  John  up  with  this.  Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Tavistock  House, 

Saturday  Morning  [10th  February,  1855]. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  find  a  letter  from  me 
at  the  office  when  you  come  this  morning,  which  I 
wrote  on  the  chance  of  your  being  at  home  last  night. 

This  present  note,  I  beg  to  say,  contains 

The  Latest  Intelligence. 

I  have  resolved  (the  Snow  considered)  not  to  go  to 
Gad's  Hill  today,  but  to  come  to  the  office  as  we  at 
first  arranged.  I  will  then  speak  to  you  about  the 
little  Freehold — perhaps  ask  you  to  look  at  it  for  me  ! 
Don't  mention  it  to  Charley.* 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

*  His  eldest  son. 


1855]  THE   LITTLE   FREEnOLD.  159 

Hotel  Meurice,  Paris, 

Friday,  Sixteenth  February,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  received  your  letter  yesterday 
evening.  The  posts  are  delayed,  the  roads  feet  deep 
in  snow,  the  cold  is  intense,  and  going  on  to  Bordeaux 
appears  to  be  out  of  question.  I  have  not  yet  seen 
the  list  of  trains  and  boats,  but  purpose  arranging  to 
return  about  Tuesday  or  Wednesday.  In  the  mean- 
time I  am  living  like  Gil  Bias  and  doing  nothing. 

I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  indeed,  for  the 
trouble  you  have  kindly  and  promptly  taken  about 
the  little  Freehold.  It  is  clear  to  me  that  its  merits 
resolve  themselves  into  the  view  and  the  spot.  If  I  had 
more  money,  these  considerations  might — with  me — 
over-top  all  others.  But  as  it  is,  I  consider  the  matter 
quite  disposed  of — finally  settled  in  the  negative — 
and  to  be  thought  no  more  about.  I  shall  not  go  down 
and  look  at  it,  as  I  could  add  nothing  to  your  report. 

Paris  is  finer  than  ever,  and  I  go  wandering  about 
it  all  day.  We  dine  at  all  manner  of  places,  and  go 
to  two  or  three  Theatres  in  the  evening.  I  suppose, 
as  an  old  Farmer  said  of  Scott,  I  am  "  makin  mysel " 
all  the  time  ;  but  I  seem  to  be  rather  a  free  and  easy 
sort  of  superior  vagabond. 

I  live  in  continual  terror  of  Poole,  *  and  am  strongly 
fortified  within  doors ;  with  a  means  of  retreat  into 
my  bedroom  always  ready.  Up  to  the  present  blessed 
moment  his  staggering  form  has  not  appeared. 

As  to  yesterday's  post  from  England  I  have  not 
at  the  present  time  the  slightest  idea  where  it  may 
be.  It  is  under  the  snow  somewhere,  I  suppose, 
but  nobody  expects  it  and  Galignani  reprints  eveiy 

*  Sec  Letter  of  June  27th,  1850,  note. 


IGO  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

morning  leaders  from  The  Times  of  about  a  fortnight 
or  three  weeks  old. 

Collins,  who  is  not  very  well,  sends  his  "  penitent 
regards,"  and  says  he  is  enjoying  himself  as  much  as 
a  man  with  the  weight  of  a  broken  promise  on  his 
conscience  can. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Tavistock  House, 

Friday,  Thirteenth  April^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  you  the  No.  with  some 
corrections  in  the  "Thousand  and  One  Humbugs."  * 
Look  to  the  punctuation  of  "  Soldiers'  Wives."  f 

Do  you  suppose  the  letter  I  enclose  to  be  from  the 
Mr.  Holt  one  has  heard  of  ?  Send  it  me  back,  with 
a  Yes  or  No. 

I  have  read  your  MS.  attentively,  and  return  it 
herewith.  It  has  interest,  but  it  seems  to  me  to  have 
one  great  want  which  I  cannot  overcome.  It  is  all 
working  machinery,  and  the  people  are  not  alive. 
I  see  the  wheels  going  and  hear  them  going,  and  the 
people  are  as  like  life  as  machinery  can  make  them — 
but  they  don't  get  beyond  the  point  of  the  moving 
waxwork.  It  is  very  difficult  to  explain  how  this  is, 
because  it  is  a  matter  of  intuitive  perception  and 
feeling  ;  but  perhaps  I  may  give  two  slight  examples. 
If  the  scene,  where  the  woman  who  dies  is  lying  in 
bed,  were  truly  done,  the  conversation  between  the 
heroine  and  the  boy  would  belong  to  it — could  do  no 

•  By  Dickens,  Household  Worda,  April  21st,  28th,  and  May  iith. 

t  "  The  Soldier's  Wife,"  by  Morley  and  Wills,  JJtmseluuld  Wordt,  April  2l8t. 


1855]  CRITICISM.  '  IGl 

violence  to  it —  and  whatever  it  might  be  about,  would 
inevitably  associate  itself  in  the  reader's  mind  with 
the  figure  on  the  bed,  and  would  lead  up  to  the 
catastrophe  that  soon  happens.  If  the  boy  on  the 
outside  of  the  Coach  were  naturally  done,  his  illness 
would  be  a  natural  thing  and  one  would  receive  it 
accordingly.  Now,  the  conversation  by  the  bed  is  an 
interruption  to  the  idea  of  the  dying  woman,  and  the 
dying  woman  is  an  interruption  to  the  conversation, 
and  they  donH  fit.  And  it  is  plain  that  you,  the 
author,  make  the  boy  ill  because  you  want  him  to 
be  ill — for,  if  the  few  closing  lines  of  the  chapter, 
referring  to  him,  were  taken  away,  the  reader  would 
have  no  reason  whatever  to  suppose  that  anything 
was  the  matter  with  him.  The  Sir  Leicester  Dedlock 
of  the  story  and  his  Mr.  Tulkinghorn  are  open  to 
similar  objections,  and  the  whole  of  the  opening 
is  much  too  long  for  what  it  contains. 

The  scene  outside  the  Coach  has  a  good  deal  of 
merit  in  it,  but  the  same  direful  want.  Consider  if 
you  had  been  outside  that  coach,  and  had  been 
suddenly  carried  into  the  midst  of  a  Torchlight 
meeting  of  that  time,  whether  you  would  have 
brought  away  no  other  impression  of  it  than  you 
give  the  reader.  Imagine  it  a  remembrance  of  your 
own,  and  look  at  the  passage.  And  exactly  because 
that  is  not  true,  the  conduct  of  the  men  who  clamber 
up  is  in  the  last  degree  improbable.  Whereas  if  the 
scene  were  truly  and  powerfully  rendered,  the  impro- 
bability more  or  less  necessary  to  all  tales  and  allow- 
able in  them,  would  become  a  part  of  a  thing  so  true 
and  vivid,  that  the  reader  must  accept  it  whether  he 
likes  it  or  not. 

D.E.  M 


ir.2  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1855 

There  is  merit  too  in  the  scene  on  the  top  of 
St.  Paul's,  and  in  the  Engraver's  house — ^but  I  still 
feel  that  Frankenstein  has  made  the  people.  You  are 
always  getting  into  the  footsteps,  too,  of  a  writer  I 
know;  and  when  your  own  shoes  might  otherwise 
leave  a  plain  bold  mark,  they  get  so  entangled  with 
prints  of  his,  that  the  reader,  following  on  the  track 
of  both,  gets  confused  and  bothered. 

I  know  it  to  be  in  the  nature  of  the  case  that  these 
objections  to  the  story  must  inevitably  become  stronger 
as  it  advances,  because  there  the  difficulties  grow 
greater.  I  mention  them  honestly ;  firstly,  because 
you  want  me  to  do  so ;  and  secondly,  because  I  usually 
accept  so  much  and  suppose  so  much,  in  reading 
Fiction,  that  I  do  not  think  I  find  more  fault  than 
another,  but  rather  the  reverse. 

Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 


[Wills  had  been  asked  to  undertake  the  editorship 
of  the  Civil  Service  Gazette,  and  had  submitted  the 
matter  to  Dickens.] 

Tavistock  House, 

Tenth  June,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills: — I  have  taken  time  (as  I  told 
you  I  would),  to  consider  the  case  you  put  to  me 
the  other  day ;  because,  although  it  immediately 
presented  itself  to  my  mind  in  one  plain  light,  I 
wished  to  be  as  sure  as  further  consideration  could 
make  me,  of  being  right. 

My  opinion  of  the  matter  is  formed,  you  will 
presently  see,  entirely  with  a  reference  to  Household 
Words.     If  I  do  not  put  your  inclinations  and  desii-es 


1855]  A  DIFFERENCE  OF  OPINION.  163 

in  a  separate  place,  it  is  because  I  assume  your  best 
interests  to  be  identified  with  Household  Words. 

I  think  your  impulse  to  take  the  offer  made  to  you 
is  altogether  a  mistake.  I  think  your  undertaking 
the  conduct  of  any  other  periodical  quite  incompatible 
with  your  position  at  Household  Words — dangerous  to 
its  individuality  and  responsibility — and  in  every  way 
prejudicial  to  its  interests.  I  have  no  course  that  I 
can  see,  but  decidedly  to  object  to  such  an  idea. 

When  you  proposed  to  me  the  terms  of  your  asso- 
ciation with  Household  Words,  you  expressly  set  forth 
to  me  necessity  of  your  giving  yourself  wholly  up 
to  it.  Since  its  establishment,  you  have  frequently 
shown  me  that  the  demands  made  by  its  business 
on  your  time,  have  prevented  your  writing  in  it. 
I  am  perfectly  sure  of  my  own  knowledge  that  it 
must  always  draw  sufiiciently  on  all  the  energies  and 
qualities  you  possess  for  the  management  and  conduct 
of  any  periodical  work.  And  although  I  can  imagine 
your  having  leisure  for  some  literary  labour  apart 
from  it,  now  and  then,  I  must  hold  to  the  position 
that  its  claims  are  engrossing,  and  that  it  must  not 
be  put  into  double-harness  with  any  other  periodical 
editing  or  sub-editing. 

In  the  case  of  "  Hard  Times,"  you  made  a  specula- 
tion with  the  hope  of  a  large  profit.  However  natural 
it  may  be  in  you  to  confound  the  temporary  sequestra- 
tion of  the  profits  on  your  share  in  Household  Words, 
with  the  worth  of  the  share  itself,  it  is  not  so  reason- 
able as  that  it  can  at  all  influence  me  in  this  case. 

If,  in  addition  to  what  you  now  do  for  Houseliold 
Words,  you  were  to  help  in  the  execution  of  articles 
that  would  admit  of  such  assistance,  I  should  think 
it  quite  fair  that  you  should  be  paid  extra  for  such 

M  2 


164  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

work.  But  I  am  clear — to  repeat  it  for  the  last  time 
— that  your  entertainment  of  such  a  proposal  as  that 
made  to  you  by  Mr.  Bruce  is  out  of  the  question,  and 
that  I  must  ask  you  to  abandon  it. 

I  have  considered  the  matter  in  every  aspect,  with 
the  greatest  desire  to  be  moderate,  and  to  make  all 
generous  allowance.  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that 
you  are  mistaken,  and  that  in  saying  what  I  now  do, 
I  accept  an  absolute  necessity  which  (in  a  mistake) 
you  impose  upon  me. 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 


[Wills  to  Dickens.  In  answer  to  the  preceding 
letter.     From  Wills's  "  Letter  Book."] 

June  11th,  1855. 

My  Dear  Dickens  : — In  deference  to  your  wishes 
I  have  written  to  Mr.  Bruce  declining  connexion  with 
his  paper  altogether. 

The  two  years  during  which  I  have  engaged  my 
whole  mind  and  energies  in  the  affairs  of  Household 
Words  must  have  convinced  you  that  my  professional 
inclinations  and  desires  are  solely  identified  with  it ; 
but  do  I  make  a  mistake  in  violating  them — however 
reluctantly — by  fulfilling  other  claims  and  duties,  and 
attempting,  without  any  abatement  of  my  usefulness 
to  Household  Words,  some  additional  means  of  income  ? 

It  is  quite  true  that  I  did  set  forth  at  the  com- 
mencement of  our  associations,  that  all  my  faculties 
would  be  absorbed  while  Household  Words  was  being 
established;  but  once  thoroughly  organised  I  never 
for  a  moment  doubted  that,  so  long  as  my  duties  to  it 


1855]  WILLS'S  WORK.  165 

were  zealously  performed,  I  could  follow  another  not 
incompatible  pursuit  concurrently — even  when  I  asked 
the  same  sum,  as  salary,  as  that  which  I  was  then 
receiving  from  the  Daily  News.  I  ceased  volunteer- 
ing articles — most  of  which  I  wrote  to  make  up  the 
deficiencies  of  others — because  I  could  not  have  kept 
up  the  high  pressure  which  the  first  two  years  of  my 
Household  Words  career  imposed  upon  me.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  an  efiicient  corps  of  contributors 
came  to  be  formed,  and  it  was  more  convenient  for 
me  to  make  suggestions  to,  and  provide  materials  for, 
them — to  confine  myself  more  strictly  to  the  duties  of 
a  sub-editor. 

The  Civil  Service  Gazette  scheme  would  have  made 
demands  upon  me  so  light  that  neither  time  nor 
attention  would  have  been  abstracted  from  my  House- 
hold Words  duties.  Other  projects  which  I  have  been 
offered  I  have  unhesitatingly  rejected  because  they 
would  have  absorbed  too  much  of  both.  I  should  not 
have  agreed  to  take  the  labouring  oar  in  the  House- 
hold Narrative  newspaper  if  even  that  had  impaired 
my  Household  Words  strength,  but  would  have  asked 
for  a  higher  berth  in  it. 

I  should  never  have  referred  to  the  "  Hard  Times  " 
speculation,  for  I  accept  that  case  as  it  stands  most 
cheerfully,  but  the  fact  is  that  my  income  is  smaller 
than  it  has  been  for  the  last  twelve  years,  and  I 
cannot  think  that  I  make  a  very  grave  mistake  in 
trying  legitimately  to  increase  it.  I  therefore  embrace 
your  offer  of  payment  for  helping  in  the  execution 
of  articles  that  would  admit  of  such  assistance  with 
alacrity,  for  I  suppose  you  intend  to  include  in  that 
expression  such  articles  written  entircUj  by  me  as  you 
think  worth  printing. 


166  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

I  have  said  all  this  because  I  know  I  may  say  any- 
thing to  you  that  is  frank  and  honestly  intended.  So 
completely  is  my  whole  life  bound  up  in  Household 
Words  and  in  the  connexion  into  which  it  brings  me 
with  you,  that  I  feel  the  giving  up  of  any  project 
apart  from  it  as  an  escape  from  a  grim  necessity,  and 
anything  that  brings  me  into  closer  association  with 
it  and  with  you  as  an  increase  of  my  best  inclinations 
and  desires. 

Believe  me  to  remain,  my  dear  Dickens, 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 

W.  H.  Wills. 

Tavistock  House, 

Tuesday,  Twelfth  June,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  is  no  fear  of  our  mis- 
understanding one  another. 

I  should  be  heartily  glad  for  you  to  increase  your 
income,  and  hope  I  have  suggested  a  means  by  which 
you  may  do  so.  My  letter  (as  I  thought  I  expressed 
in  it)  does  not  apply  to  every  conceivable  kind  of 
literary  occupation,  but  particularizes  the  editing  or 
sub-editing  of  a  periodical  not  associated  with  Household 
Words. 

Your  zeal  and  fidelity  in  all  respects,  of  course  I 
have  never  doubted.     How  could  I ! 

Faithfully  yours  ever, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Thursday,  Twelfth  July,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  is  no  doubt  whatever,  that 
the  "  Wife's  Stoiy  "  is  written  by  a  very  remarkable 


1855]  MISS  EMILY  JOLLY.  167 

woman.*  I  am  quite  clear  that  there  is  a  strong 
reason  to  believe  that  a  great  writer  is  coming  up  in 
this  person,  whoever  it  is. 

The  story  is  extremely  difficult  of  adaptation  to  our 
purpose,  but  I  think  I  see  a  way  to  doing  it  in  four 
parts.  It  would  require,  however,  to  be  condensed  in 
the  beginning,  and  I  believe  the  catastrophe  to  be 
altogether  wrong.  That  part  must  be  re-written  if  I 
accept  it,  and  I  should  particularly  like  to  see  the 
writer  on  that  subject. 

If  you  have  the  means  of  communicating  readily 
with  the  lady — I  assume  the  writer  to  be  a  lady — I 
will  see  her  at  the  office  on  Monday  at  11,  if  that  day 
and  hour  should  suit  her  convenience.  In  the  event 
of  her  living  in  the  country,  I  suppose  I  must  write ; 
but  I  would  prefer  an  interview.  I  think  there  is  a 
sui'prising  knowledge  of  one  dark  phase  of  human 
nature  throughout  this  composition ;  and  that  it  is 
expressed,  generally,  with  uncommon  passion  and 
power. 

You  may  quote  as  much  of  this — part  or  all,  as  you 
like — in  writing  to  this  author,  and  I  particularly 
wish  you  would  add  that  the  story  only  came  under 
my  perusal  this  morning. 

I  enclose  another  MS.  which  will  be  inquired  for  at 
the  office.  The  lady's  name  and  address  I  have 
marked  in  pencil  upon  it.  I  have  written  to  her  and 
declined  it. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 

I  have  seen  Evans  here  just  now,  about  their  change 

*  Miss  Emily  Jolly,  authoress  of  "  Mr.  Arle  "  and  other  novels.  "  A 
Wife's  story"  appeared  in  Hmiitehold  Wards,  September  1st  to  22nd  of  this 
year.  Two  letters  from  Dickens  to  Miss  Jolly  (July  17th  and  July  21st, 
1855)  are  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  173 — 175. 


168  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

in  the  Heading.  It  must  stand  as  it  is  until  the  end 
of  the  Yolume,  and  I  will  tell  you  on  Monday  how  I 
propose  it  shall  then  be. 

Enclosed  is  a  draft  for  12/6  which  you  can  place  to 
my  credit  in  our  account. 

Folkestone, 

Sunday  J  Twenty-second  Jidy,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  been  so  very  much 
affected  by  the  long  story  without  a  title  * — which  I 
have  read  this  morning — that  I  am  scarcely  fit  for  a 
business  letter.  It  is  more  painfully  pathetic  than 
anything  I  have  read  for  I  know  not  how  long.  I  am 
not  at  all  of  your  opinion  about  the  details.  It  seems 
to  me  to  be  so  thoroughly  considered,  that  they  are  all 
essential  and  in  perfect  keeping.  I  could  not  in  my 
conscience  recommend  the  writer  to  cut  the  story 
down  in  any  material  degree.  I  think  it  would  be 
decidedly  wrong  to  do  so ;  and  I  see  next  to  nothing 
in  the  MS.,  which  is  otherwise  than  an  essential  part 
of  the  sad  picture. 

Two  difficulties  then  remain,  which  I  fear  are 
insurmountable  as  to  Household  Words.  The  first  is, 
the  length  of  the  story.  The  next  is,  the  nature  of 
the  idea  on  which  it  turns.  So  many  unhappy  people 
are,  by  no  fault  of  their  own,  linked  to  a  similar 
terrible  possibility — or  even  probability — that  I  am 
afraid  it  might  cause  prodigious  unhappiness,  if  we 
could  address  it  to  our  large  audience.  I  shrink  from 
the  responsibility  of  awakening  so  much  slumbering 
fear  and  despair.     Most  unwilling  therefore,  I  come 

*  This  story  was  "  Gilbert  Ma88cn<^er,"  by  Holme  Lee  (Miss  Harriett 
Parr).  A  letter  from  Dickons  to  her  in  reference  to  this  story  is  printed  in 
"  Life,"  ill.,  455,  note. 


1855]  MISS   LYNN.  1G9 

to  the  apprehension  that  there  is  no  course  but  to 
return  it  to  the  authoress.  I  wish  however  that  you 
would  in  the  strongest  language  convey  to  her  my 
opinion  of  its  great  merits,  while  you  explain  the 
difficulties  I  now  set  forth.  I  honestly  think  it  a 
work  of  extraordinary  power,  and  will  gladly  address 
a  letter  to  her,  if  she  should  desire  it,  describing  the 
impression  it  has  made  upon  me.  It  might,  perhaps, 
help  to  soften  a  publisher. 

Miss  Lynn's  story*  shews  to  considerable  disad- 
vantage, after  such  writing.  But  it  is  what  she 
represented  it  in  her  draft,  and  it  is  very  clever. 
Now,  as  it  presents  (to  cursory  readers)  almost  the 
reverse  of  the  Medal  whereof  Miss  Jolly  presents  the 
other  side,  I  think  it  will  be  best  to  pay  for  it  at  once^ 
and,  for  the  present  (say  even  for  a  few  months),  to 
hold  it  back ;  not  telling  her  the  exact  reason,  but 
merely  saying  that  we  are  pledged  first  to  the  insertion 
of  other  stories  in  four  parts,  already  accepted. 
Miss  Jolly's  is  more  wholesome  and  more  powerful, 
because  it  hits  the  target,  which  Miss  Lynn  goes  a 
little  about,  with  a  rifle-shot  in  the  centre  of  the  Bull's 
eye,  and  knocks  it  clean  over.  Therefore  it  should 
have  precedence — both  on  its  own  account  and  ours. 

But  observe.  I  do  not  conceive  it  possible  that 
Miss  Jolly  can  alter  her  story  within  the  time  you 
mention.  What  I  want  done  to  it,  is  much  too 
delicate  for  such  swift  jobbing-work.  I  question  on 
the  other  hand,  whether  it  may  not  be  politic  just 
now,  to  have  one  monthly  part  ivithout  a  long  story — 
merely  for  the  sake  of  variety. 

My  thoughts  have  been  upon  my  bookf  since  I 

*  "  Sentiment  and  Action,"  Hirusehold  Wurdf,  November  3i-cl  to  2-lth,  1855. 
t  "  Little  Dorrit,"  the  first  number  of  which  appeiircd  in  December  of 
this  year. 


170  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1855 

came  down,  and  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  hit  upon  a 
subject  for  the  opening  of  the  new  Volume.  I  will 
let  you  know,  however,  by  tomorrow  night's  post. 

When  I  came  back  from  Oxford  last  Sunday  night, 
I  found  a  letter  from  the  Mr.  Meriton  you  speak  of 
(dated  either  on  that  day  or  the  Saturday  night) 
coolly  requesting  to  have  the  then  enclosed  MS.  read 
and  returned  by  the  Monday  evening,  when  he  would 
send  for  it.  I  wrote  a  short  note,  declining  to  under- 
take to  peruse  it  on  such  terms — and  put  it  up  at  the 
office  on  the  Monday  Morning — and  there  gave  it  to 
John  to  take  to  Tavistock  House  in  the  course  of  the 
day,  "  where  it  would  be  called  for."  Pray  see  who 
is  to  blame  for  there  being  any  more  trouble  about  it. 

I  have  written  to  Mr.  Brough,  whose  paper  will  do. 
I  expect  my  brother  down  today,  and,  if  he  comes, 
will  send  it  and  the  pathetic  story  up  to  you  by  him. 

Miss  Lynn's  notions  of  a  criminal  trial  are  of  the 
Nightmarest  description.  The  prisoner  makes  state- 
ments on  oath,  and  is  examined  besides  ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Wednesday  J  Fifth  September,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  a  very  strong  misgiving 
that  the  "  White  Feather  "  is  plagiarised  from  an  old 
paper  in  Blachvood — one  of  the  stories  in  the  "  Nights 
at  Mess,"  I  think.  I  am  perfectly  sure  that  there  is  a 
well-known  paper,  originally  published  in  Blachvoodj 
working  out  the  same  idea.  White  is  coming  here  to 
a  Lodging  to-night,  and  I  will  consult  his  remembrance 
about  it — indeed,  I  don't  know  but  it  was  his  writing 
— in  the  meantime  the  ''  White  Feather  "  must  stand 


1855]  A  MILITARY  WOMAN.  171 

over,  and  I  have  put  in,  in  its  place,  Miss  Lynn's 
''  Winifred's  Vow."  *  "Which  is  a  very  pretty  story 
indeed. 

It  is,  however,  three  columns  shorter ;  and  as  you 
have  not  sent  me  any  list  of  the  articles  in  hand,  I 
cannot  suggest  how  to  fill  up  the  deficiency.  There 
is,  however,  ample  time  for  you  to  communicate  with 
Morley  on  the  subject.  They  shall  have  my  paper  at 
Whitefriars,  I  hope  on  Saturday  morning — at  latest 
on  Monday. 

I  hope  you  are  enjoying  your  holiday. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Tuesday,  Eleventh  September ,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  do  not  write  because  I  have 
anything  to  say — for  I  have  nothing— but  merely 
to  let  you  know  that  I  have  received  your  unanswered 
letters. 

The  "  White  Feather  "  taboo,  on  the  ground  of  its 
strong  resemblance,  in  idea,  to  the  "  Sir  Frizzle 
Pumpkin  "  story.  I  don't  think  it  all  trenching  on 
the  "Fair  Maid  of  Perth,"  but  in  respect  of  the 
"  Frizzle  "  it  is  a  plagiarism. 

As  the  French  Editorial  Phalanx  do  not  reply  to 
your  letter,  but  write  as  if  they  had  never  received  it, 
I  think  it  will  be  best  not  to  answer  this  letter  at  all. 

Mrs.  Wills  can  answer  the  military  woman  as  she 
thinks  best — either  to  the  effect  that  she  knows  it  is 
of  no  use  to  ask  me,  or  that  she  has  asked  me,  and 
finds  me  to  be  much  too  busily  engaged  with  my  own 

•  Household  Wordg,  September  29th. 


172  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

pursuits.     Anyhow,  I  am  not  going  to  do  what  the 
martial  woman  wants. 

I  am  Just  now  trying  to  settle  to  No.  3  of  the  new 
book — a  hideous  state  of  mind  in  which  I  walk  down 
stairs  once  in  every  five  minutes,  look  out  of  window 
once  in  every  two,  and  do  nothing  else. 

Peter  Cunningham  has  been  staying  at  the  Pavilion 
(and  dining  here)  since  Friday.  He  went  up  by 
Maidstone  and  Eochester  yesterday,  and  we  walked 
over  Blue  Bell  Hill  with  him.  At  Paddock  Wood 
we  found  that  his  own  particular  Audit  Office 
messenger  had  been  cut  to  pieces  by  a  locomotive 
on  Friday  night. 

So  no  more  at  present  from 

Yours  always, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Sixteenth  Septemher^  1855. 

My  Deae  Wills  : — Scrooge  is  delighted  to  find 
that  Bob  Cratchit  is  enjoying  his  holiday  in  such  a 
delightful  situation ;  and  he  says  (with  that  warmth 
of  nature  which  has  distinguished  him  ever  since  his 
conversion)  "Make  the  most  of  it,  Bob;  make  the 
most  of  it !  " 

(I  am  just  getting  to  work  on  No.  3  of  the  new 
book,  and  am  in  the  hideous  state  of  mind  belonging 
to  that  condition.) 

Among  the  list  of  matter  in  hand,  you  will  find 
*'  Peter  the  Great,"  by  Peter  of  the  Audit  Office.  He 
says  there  are  some  "  new  and  curious  facts"  in  it. 
I  have  not  read  it,  but  sent  it  straight  to  Arry. 

What  about  the  Paris  paper  ? 

I  have  not  a  word  of  news.     I  am  steeped  in  my 


1855]  "OUT   OF  TOWN."  173 

story,  and  rise  and  fall  by  turns  into  enthusiasm  and 
depression. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Tuesday  Night,  September  Eighteenth^  1855. 

"  The  Erards." 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  don't  know  that  I  have  the 
least  knowledge  of  Mr.  Eobertson,  though  he  addresses 
me  as  "  Dear  Dickens."  I  send  you  his  letter.  Will 
you  answer  it  to  the  effect  that  the  article*  is  accepted 
(it  is  a  very  good  one  for  us).  I  send  it  to  Arry  to  be 
printed,  by  this  post.  It  should  go  into  the  next 
No.  made  up,  as  it  is  apropos  of  the  Queen's  late  visit 
to  Paris  and  will  get  out  of  date.  Will  you  take  care 
that  Hogarth  has  it  to  look  over,  in  order  that  there 
may  be  nothing  in  it  against  his  positive  knowledge. 

*'  The  Eival  Queens." 

I  am  sorry  to  say,  Taboo.  I  will  enclose  it  to 
Holdsworth,  with  instructions  to  retain  it  for  your 
directions. 

"  The  Old  Cathedral  City." 

I  will  try  to  read  to-morrow. 

"  Out  of  TowN."t 
(an  article  of  mine  for  next  week's  No.).     I   sent 
Breach  of  the  Pavilion  a  proof  it,  and  he  is  in  the 
Seventh  Heaven  of  Delight  and  wants   500   copies 

*  "  Pierre  Erard,"  Household  Words,  October  6th,  1855.  In  the  Office 
Book  it  is  ascribed  to  "  liobinson."  See,  however,  the  letter  of  NoTember  10th, 
this  year. 

f  Household  Words,  September  29th.  In  the  article  Folkestone  is  called 
"  ravilionstone." 


174  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

of  the  No.  Will  you  instruct  Holdsworth  to  send 
them  down  on  the  Tuesday  night  by  the  mail  train, 
so  that  Breach  may  have  them  on  the  "Wednesday 
morning;  and  will  you  forward  him  a  note  from 
yourself  to  Breach,  to  go  in  the  parcel,  to  the  effect 
that  you  have  the  pleasure  of  forwarding  them  at  my 
request  and  begging  his  acceptance  of  them.  (He 
was  so  extraordinarily  kind  to  me  when  I  was  ill,  that 
I  am  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  being  able  to  make 
the  little  present.) 

You 

I  suppose  are  fat  and  rosy. 

I 

am  in  the  variable  state  consequent  on  the  beginning 
of  a  new  story. 

YOIJ  AND  I 

I  suppose  will  foregather  before  long. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Sunday^  Twenty-third  Septcmher^  1855. 

H.  W.  289. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — '*  Sportsmanship  in  Earnest  "* 
for  the  first  article  most  decidedly. 

I  wish  you  would  ask  Sala  so  to  remodel  that  paper 
on  the  Kensington  Gardens  Band,t  as  not  to  argue 
the  question  with  so  ridiculous  an  antagonist  as  the 
Sentinelj  and  not  to  refer  to  the  verses.  What  their 
writer  wants  is  notoriety,  and  why  should  we  give  it 

•  By  Dixon,  Household  Words,  October  6th,  1855. 

t  "Sunday  Music,"  Household  Words,  October  13th,  1856. 


1855J  CHARLES  DICKENS,  JUNIOR.  175 

to  the  blockhead  ?  Sala's  description  is  very  pretty 
— perhaps  he  may  see  something  else,  to  amplify  it  a 
little.  But  what  I  wish  to  do,  is,  not  to  argue  the 
question  and  elevate  these  Sentinels  and  their  pre- 
posterous sentry-boxes.  I  wish  you  would  explain  to 
him  what  I  mean,  and  tell  him  that  I  want  to  rest  the 
subject  upon  its  common  sense  and  common  humanity, 
without  reference  to  any  braying  jackass  with  a  head 
— and  nothing  in  it. 

You  have  something  to  substitute,  no  doubt  ? 

Nor  would  I  just  now  put  in  "  From  Kraiova 
through  Orsova  "  * — though  it  may  be  paid  for.  If 
for  no  other  reason,  because  there  is  a  reference  to 
Mazzini  in  it.  I  have  a  great  regard  for  him,  but 
this  is  not  exactly  the  time  to  call  him  "  a  keen 
player  "  with  his  "  Manifesto  to  the  Neapolitans  "  in 
our  hands. 

Where  is  "  Peter  the  Great  "  ?  Where  is 
"Erard"? 

I  should  like  to  see  the  re-modelled  No. 


cannot  very  well  come  up  to  town  before  Saturday,  as 
I  am  very  hard  at  work,  and  rather  slowly.  But  I 
will  arrange  to  come  on  Saturday,  and  on  Saturday 
week.     Will  that  do  for  you.  Bob  ? 

I  send  you  No.  2 — not  corrected.  When  you  have 
read  it,  let  Forster  have  it. 

And  I  think  that's  all  I  have  to  say  this  morning. 
Except 

CHAKLEY.f 

On  Wednesday  I  got  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bates  saying 

*  "  From  Kraiova  to  London,"  ffousehold  Words,  October  20th,  by  E.  C. 
Grenville  Murray. 

I  Dickeua's  eldest  son, 


176  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

that  when  he  recommended  Charley's  going  to  the 
Brokers,  he  could  not  foresee  that  so  good  an  opening 
would  arise  in  Baring's  as  had  suddenly  presented 
itself.  That  the  Brokers  gave  Charley  the  highest 
character  for  ability  and  zeal,  and  that  he  would  be 
glad  to  take  him  into  Baring's  (instantly  if  I  pleased), 
beginning  at  £50  a  year.  I  immediately  sent  off  to 
Charley,  and  he  goes  to  Baring's  tomorrow.  I 
expect  the  Brokers  to  have  been  a  device  and  trial 
altogether — to  get  a  telescopic  view  of  a  youth  with 
the  double  suspicion  on  him  arising  out  of  his  being 
an  author's  son  and  an  Eton  boy. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Folkestone, 

Tuesday,  Twenty -fifth  September  ^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills: — I  write  hastily,  after  a  day's 
work. 

"  Half  a  Life  Time  Ago  "  *  will  be  well  divided,  I 
think,  as  you  propose.  I  have  marked  a  place  at 
page  235  where  the  effect  would  be  obviously  served 
by  making  a  new  chapter.  Is  such  a  thing  to  be 
done  with  that  lady  ?     If  so,  do  it. 

I  don't  like  three  such  short  articles  in  one  No. 
as  "  London  Stones,"  "  The  Caitiff  Postman,"  and 
"  The  Erards."  Can't  you  remedy  this  ?  It  looks  so 
patchy. 

I  think  you  ought  to  set  your  want  of  participation 
in  No.  288  right  by  reading  "  Out  of  Town  "  in  every 
one  of  Breach's  500  copies. 

It  would  be  particularly  well-timed  if  we  could  hit 

•  By  Mrs.  Gaskell,  Uousehold  Wards,  October  6th  to  20th,  1855. 


Jl  p-aidrM.  &  >itt.  /iy!.rrtoy>TzytA«^ 


\ji/MjL^  UjL.JpUUt^ 


1855]  W.  M.   THACKERAY.  177 

the  Charter  House  again,  hard.  Can  anything  be 
done  out  of  private  information,  young  Hale's 
pamphlet,  and  a  communication  in  reference  to 
Thackeray's  distorted  praise  of  it  (which  I  remon- 
strated with  him  about),  in  the  Examiner  two  Sundays 
ago  ?  I  should  particularly,  of  course  with  all  respect 
for  and  praise  of  Thackeray,  [like]  to  knock  that 
destructive  bit  of  sentiment  in  connexion  with  the 
poor  brothers  slap  over  as  with  a  rifle-shot.* 
Yours  always  faithfully 

(and  at  present  addle-headedly), 

C.  D. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es,  Paris, 

Friday,  October  Nineteenth^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — After  going  through  unheard- 
of  bedevilments  (of  which  you  shall  have  further 
particulars  as  soon  as  I  come  right  side  upwards — 
which  may  happen  in  a  day  or  two)  we  are  at  last 
established  here — in  a  series  of  closets,  but  a  great 
many  of  them — with  all  Paris  perpetually  passing 
under  the  windows.  Letters  may  have  been  wander- 
ing after  me  to  that  house  in  the  Rue  de  Balzac, 
which  is  to  be  the  subject  of  more  law  suits  between 
the  man  who  let  it  to  me  and  the  man  who  wouldn't 
let  me  have  possession,  than  any  other  house  that 
ever  was  built.  But  I  have  had  no  letters  at  all,  and 
have  been — ha  ha  ! — a  maniac,  since  last  Monday. 

"Will  you  give  my  address  to  B.  and  E.  without 
loss  of  time,  and  tell  them  that  although  I  have  com- 
municated at  full  explanatory  length  with  Browne,  I 
have  heard  nothing  of  or  from  him.     Will  you  add 

*  See    "  The    Charter-House    Charity,"    by  Morley,  Houselwld   Words, 
December  1st,  1855. 

D.E.  N 


178  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

that  I  am  uneasy  and  wish  they  would  communicate 
with  Mr.  Young,  his  partner,  at  once.  Also  that  I 
beg  them  to  be  so  good  as  send  Browne  my  present 
address. 

I  will  try  my  hand  at  that  paper  for  H.  W, 
tomorrow,  if  I  can  get  a  yard  of  flooring  to  sit  upon. 
But  we  have  really  been  in  that  state  of  topsy-turvy- 
hood,  that  even  that  has  been  an  unattainable  luxury 
— and  may  yet  be  for  eight  and  forty  hours  or  so,  for 
anything  I  see  to  the  contrary. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es,  Paris, 

Sundaij  Nightj  Twenty-first  October,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Coming  home  from  a  walk 
this  afternoon,  I  found  your  letter  of  yesterday 
awaiting  me.  I  send  this  reply  by  my  brother  Alfred 
who  is  here,  and  who  returns  home  tomorrow.  You 
should  get  it  at  the  office,  early  on  Tuesday. 

I  will  go  to  work  tomorrow,  and  Avill  send  you, 
please  God,  an  article  by  Tuesday's  post  which  you  will 
get  on  Wednesday  forenoon.  Look  carefully  to  the 
Proof,  as  I  shall  not  have  time  to  receive  it  for 
correction.  When  you  arrange  about  sending  your 
parcels,  will  you  ascertain  and  communicate  to  me  the 
prices  of  Telegraph  messages  ?  It  will  save  me  trouble, 
having  no  foreign  servant  (though  French  is  in  that 
respect  a  Trump),  and  may  be  useful  on  an  emergency. 

I  have  two  floors  here — entresol  and  first — in  a 
Doll's  house,  but  really  pretty  within,  and  the  view 
without,  astounding — as  you  will  say  when  you  come. 
ThcHouseis  on  the  Exposition  side,  about  half  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  above  Franconi's,  of  course  on  the  other  side 


1855]  REFORMING   A   ROOM.  179 

of  the  way,  and  close  to  the  Jardin  d'Hiver.  Each 
room  has  but  one  window  in  it,  but  we  have  no  fewer 
than  six  rooms  (besides  the  back  ones)  looking  on  the 
Champs  Elys(5es,  with  the  wonderful  life  perpetually 
flowing  up  and  down.  We  have  no  spare-room,  but 
excellent  stowage  for  the  whole  family,  including  a 
capital  dressing  room  for  me,  and  a  really  slap-up 
Kitchen  near  the  stars !  Damage  for  the  whole,  700 
francs  a  month. 

But  Sir — but — when  Georgina,  the  servants,  and 
I,  were  here  for  the  first  night  (Catherine  and  the 
rest  being  at  Boulogne,)  I  heard  Georgy  restless- 
turned  out— asked  "What's  the  matter  ?  "— "  Oh  it's 
dreadfully  dirty.  I  can't  sleep  for  the  smell  of  my 
room."  Imagine  all  my  stage-managerial  energies 
multiplied,  at  daybreak  by  1,000.  Imagine  the 
porter,  the  porter's  wife,  the  porter's  wife's  sister,  a 
feeble  upholsterer  of  enormous  age  from  round  the 
corner,  and  all  his  workmen  (4  boys)  summoned. 
Imagine  the  partners  in  the  proprietorship  of  the 
apartment — old  lady,  and  martial  little  man  with 
Eran9ois  Premier  beard — also  summoned.  Imagine 
your  inimitable  chief  briefly  explaining  that  Dirt  is  not 
in  his  way,  and  that  he  is  driven  to  madness,  and  that 
he  devotes  himself  to  no  coat  and  a  dirty  face  until 
the  apartment  is  thoroughly  purified.  Imagine  co- 
proprietors  at  first  astounded — then  urging  that  "  it's 
not  the  custom  " — then  wavering — then  affected — 
then  confiding  their  utmost  private  sorrows  to  the 
Inimitable — offering  new  carpets  (accepted),  embraces 
(not  accepted),  and  really  responding  like  French 
Bricks.  Sallow,  unbrushed,  unshorn,  awful,  stalks 
the  Inimitable  through  the  apartment  until  last  night. 
Then  all  the  improvements  were  concluded,  and  I  do 

N  2 


180  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

really  believe  the  place  to  be  now  worth.  800  or  900 
francs  per  month.  You  must  picture  it  as  the 
smallest  place  you  ever  saw,  but  as  exquisitely  cheerful 
and  vivacious — clean  as  anything  human  can  be — and 
with  a  moving  panorama  always  outside,  which  is 
Paris  in  itself. 

If  this  should  cross  a  letter  and  projected  No.  from 
you  tomorrow  night,  I  shall  of  course  understand 
that  this  announcement  of  my  coming  article  governs 
everything  else,  and  that  you  will  arrange  accordingly. 
I  mention  this  now,  as  I  may  have  no  time  to  write 
with  the  MS. 

You  mention  a  letter  from  Miss  Coutts  as  to  Mrs. 
Brown's  *  illness,  which  you  say  is  ' '  enclosed  to  Mrs. 
C.  D." 

It  is  not  enclosed 
— and  I  am  mad  to  know  where  she  writes  from  that 
I  may  write   to  her.     Pray  set  this  right,  for  her 
uneasiness  will  be  greatly  intensified,  if  she  hears  no 
word  from  me. 

I  thought  we  were  to  give  £1,700  for  the  house  at 
Gad's  Hill.  Are  we  bound  to  £1,800  ?  Considering 
the  improvements  to  be  made,  it  is  a  little  too  much, 
isn't  it  ?  I  have  a  strong  impression  that  at  the 
utmost  we  were  only  to  divide  the  difference,  and  not 
to  pass  £1,750.  You  will  set  me  right  if  I  am  wrong. 
But  I  don't  think  I  am. 

I  write  very  hastily,  with  a  Piano  playing  and 
Alfred  looking  for  this. 

Ever,  my  Dear  "Wills, 

Faithfully, 

CD. 

*  Mrs.  Brown  was  for  many  years  Miss  Coutts's  companion  and  intimate 
friend. 


1855]  FAME  IN   PARIS.  181 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es, 

Wednesdai/j  Tiventy -fourth  October^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  infer  from  your  letter  Just  now 
received  (the  Foreign  Post  is  not  delivered  in  this 
part  of  Paris  until  between  1  and  2),  that  you 
had  not  then  got  my  letter  posted  by  Alfred.  This 
morning  you  will  have  received  my  article,  promised 
therein.     And  this,  I  hope,  will  have  set  you  up. 

No  news  whatever,  of  the  missing  Miss  Coutts 
letter. 

In  the  Gad's  Hill  matter,  I  too  would  like  to  tiy 
the  effect  of  "  not  budging.''  So  do  not  go  beyond  the 
£1,700.  Considering  what  I  should  have  to  expend 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  low  price  of  stock  on  the 
other,  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  go  beyond  that  mark. 
They  won't  let  a  purchaser  escape,  for  the  sake  of 
£100,  I  think.  And  Austin  was  strongly  of  opinion, 
when  I  saw  him  last,  that  £1,700  was  enough. 

You  cannot  be  in  any  doubt  about  this  place,  if  you 
will  only  recall  it  as  the  great  main  road  from  the 
Place  do  la  Concorde  to  the  Barri^re  de  TEtoile. 
Immediately  above  the  Jardin  d'Hiver,  is  this  house. 

You  cannot  think  how  pleasant  it  is  to  me  to  find 
myself  generally  known  and  liked  here.  If  I  go  into 
a  shop  to  buy  anything  and  give  my  card,  the  ojficiating 
priest  or  priestess  brightens  up,  and  says,  "  Ah  !  C'est 
I'ecrivain  c^lebre !  Monsieur  porte  une  nomme  tr^s 
distingu^.  Mais  !  Je  suis  honor^  et  interess^  de  voir 
Monsieur  Dick-in.  Je  lis  un  des  livres  de  Monsieur 
tons  les  jours."  (In  the  Moniteur).  And  a  man  who 
brought  some  little  vases  home  last  night,  said,  "  On 
connait  bien,  en  France,  que  Monsieur  Dickin  prend 
sa  position  sur  la  dignity  de  la  Litt^rature.     Ah  !  C'est 


182  CHAKLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

grande  chose  !  Et  ses  caracteres  (this  was  to  Georgina 
while  he  unpacked),  "  sont  si  spirituellement  tourneys ! 
Gette  Madame  Tojair  (Todgers)  Ah  !  Qu'elle  est  drole, 
et  precisement  comme  une  dame  que  je  connais  a 
Calais!" 

Ever  faithfully, 

G.  D. 
Great  haste  to  save  post. 

49,  Avenue  des  Ghamps  Elys^es, 

Sunday,  Twenty-eighth  October ,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Don't  be  uneasy  about  the 
letters.  All  has  come  right.  Miss  Goutts  is  here 
and  poor  Mrs.  Brown*  with  her.  The  instant  I 
received  the  two  notes,  I  wrote  to  her  at  Montpellier. 
She  crossed  that  letter  on  her  way  here.  Enquiring 
at  the  Hotel  Bristol,  I  found  they  were  coming 
directly,  and  I  immediately  guessed  what  had  hap- 
pened. The  body  has  been  embalmed,  and  has  been 
sent  home  to  Stratton  Street.  She  will  be  able,  it 
being  in  that  condition,  to  bury  it  under  her  own 
Ghurch — which  is  a  comforting  idea  to  her,  and  which 
she  thinks  Mrs.  Brown  will  like.  I  shall  have  to 
come  over  to  the  Funeral,  but  I  hope  it  will  be  so 
long  delayed  as  to  bring  me  near  to  oiu'  Audit  day. 

All  right  as  to  No.  293,  also  as  to  getting  a  Number 
ahead — which  stormy  weather  may  make  desirable ; 
though  it  but  rarely  happens  that  the  Mail  Boat 
doesn't  cross. 

I  will  in  future  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letters,  and  you  will  do  the  like  by  me.  "We  shall 
then  be  sure  that  we  miss  nothing. 

You  may  imagine  that  I  have  been  put  out  by  this 

*  Sec  letter  of  October  21st,  1855,  note. 


1855]  GIN  PUNCH.  183 

unexpected  event.  In  Miss  Coutts's  peculiar  circum- 
stances— so  isolated  in  the  midst  of  her  goodness  and 
wealth — it  has  been  a  great  blow  to  her.  And  I  have 
that  respect  and  admiration  for  her,  that  I  cannot 
bear  to  see  her  distressed.  They  are  both  as  quiet 
and  well  as  it  is  possible  to  hope,  however. 

Faithfully  always,  C.  D. 

Paris,  49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es, 

Saturday,  Tenth  November ,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  had  a  rather  heavy  passage, 
but  was  not  even  squeamish.  Arrived  here  in  very 
good  time,  and  with  great  success. 

Will  you  tell  Mark  [Lemon]  with  my  love,  that  I 
found  them  playing  that  piece  in  Boulogne,  and  that 
I  observed  it  to  be  becoming  very  well  known,  not 
only  among  the  French,  but  among  our  countrymen 
going  to  and  fro.  Consequently,  if  he  do  anything 
with  it,  it  should  be  done  at  once. 

There  has  called  on  me  in  my  absence,  a  Mr.  John 
Eobertson,*  15,  Eue  de  Monceau,  Faubourg  St.  Eoule. 
I  believe  this  to  be  the  writer  of  the  "  Erard  "  paper. 
Will  you  address  a  letter  to  him,  explaining  that  in  a 
multiplicity  of  communications  his  letter  was  unfor- 
tunately mislaid,  but  that  you  have  heard  from  me 
that  I  think  that  is  his  address.  And  that  you  beg  the 
favour  of  knowing  whether  you  are  right,  in  order 
that  you  may  remit  him  the  amount  due  to  him  for 
his  contribution. 

Don't  forget  the  early  almanac  for  Miss  Coutts. 

I  am  impatient  to  know  how  the  Gin  Punch 
succeeded  with  you.  It  is  the  most  wonderful 
beverage  in  the  world,  and  I  think  ought  to  be  laid 

*  See  ante,  p.  173. 


184  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

on  at  high  pressure  by  the  Board  of  Health.  After 
sleeping  only  two  hours  on  the  H.  W.  sofa,  I  arose 
yesterday  morning  like  a  dewy  flower. 

Mentioning  which  object,  I  am  reminded  by  con- 
trast that  your  friend  Wheatstone  was  on  board 
yesterday ;  and  that  at  Boulogne  with  his  boredom 
developed,  and  his  visage  creased  by  abject  sea-sick- 
ness, he  was  the  most  terrific  phantom — the  shrunken 
spectre  of  the  Ancient  Mariner. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

P.S.  1.  I  think  I  gave  you,  sometime  ago,  some 
Xmas  Yerses  of  Townshend's.*  If  you  will  send 
them  me  in  type  when  you  send  other  things,  I  will 
try  to  put  them  into  shape  for  the  ordinary  No. 

P.S.  2.  About  the  1st  or  2nd  of  next  month,  it 
will  be  well  to  write  to  the  hotel  at  Peterboro',t  order- 
ing our  accommodation;  as  Mrs.  WatsonJ  and  (I 
believe)  her  two  boys,  will  be  with  us.  I  have  written 
to  her  about  it,  and  will  prime  you  with  our  require- 
ments in  good  time. 

Paris,  49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es, 

Thursday,  Fifteenth  November,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  the  No. — a  most  alarm- 
ingly shy  one,  and  really  requiring  something  better 
to  bring  it  up  at  last  than  that  "  Much  Ado  About 
Nothing."  Pray  overhaul  your  stock,  and  see  if  you 
can't  find  something  better  than  that  at  any  rate. 

"  Charter  House  Charity, "||  most  decidedly  first.    I 

*  Probably  "  Work  for  Heaven,"  by  Townshend,  in  household  Words  of 
November  24th.    For  Townshend,  see  letter  of  August  12th,  1854,  note. 
+  Dickens  was  engaged  to  give  a  reading  there. 

I  The  Hon.  Mrs.  K.  Watson,  of  Rockingham  Castle. 

II  See  ante,  p.  177. 


1855]  WILLS  AND  MISS  COUTTS.  185 

would  make  that  the  name,  and  have  so  altered  it  in 
the  No.  Look  to  my  corrections,  and  particularly  in 
"  Literal  Claims,"  where  the  Italics  (of  which,  take 
care  that  not  one  is  left),  and  the  marks  of  elision  where 
the  vowels  are  omitted,  are  as  irritating  and  vulgar  as 
the  offences  complained  of.  I  suppose  it  to  be  Dixon. 
It  is  as  weak  as  the  Paris  flies  are  in  this  post. 

I  hope,  by  Monday's  post,  to  send  you  my  part  of 
the  Xmas  No.* 

My  people  are  all  gone  to  see  the  distribution  of 
prizes  at  the  Exposition  (I  recusant) ;  in  reference  to 
which  demonstration  I  have  been  driving  Landseer 
out  of  his  senses  by  telling  him,  that,  no  matter 
what  the  Queen  and  Lords  tell  him,  if  they  give  him 
money  (as  it  is  said  they  will),  he  is  bound  in  self- 
respect  and  in  respect  for  his  art  and  his  country  to 
send  it  politely  to  the  Prefect  tomorrow  for  the  Poor 
of  Paris. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es, 

Friday,  November  Sixteenth^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  very  short  note — I  am  driven 
into  the  smallest  corner  for  time. 

You  will  probably  receive  a  note  from  Miss  Coutts, 
asking  you  to  call  upon  her.  She  wants  to  have,  for 
the  present,  a  confidential  Secretary,  to  write  her 
letters,  and  see  that  the  money  she  gives  away  is  well 
bestowed.  Por  the  two  things,  Saunders  has  occurred 
to  me  ;  for  the  last  thing  only,  Johnson.  Since  then, 
for  both  and  on  all  grounds,  You.     And  if  she  tells 

•  "  The  Holly  Tree,"  to  wliich  Dickens  contributed  three  parts — "  Myself," 
"  The  Boots,"  and  "  The  Bill." 


186  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

you  that  she  has  communicated  with  me  on  the 
subject,  and  that  I  replied  I  would  write  to  you  and 
tell  you  my  views  and  the  people  I  had  thought  of, 
then  I  counsel  you  (if  you  see  no  personal  objection) 
to  propose  yourself.  The  duties  would  not  be  incon- 
venient at  all — the  connexion  would  be  extremely 
valuable  and  pleasant  to  you — the  money  would  not 
be  unacceptable — and  the  post  is  fit  for  any  gentle- 
man, in  association  with  such  a  lady.  Don't  be 
amazed  by  the  suddenness  of  this  note.  I  have  an 
idea  that  it  may  possibly  be  useful  to  you.  Will 
write  again  on  Sunday. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elys^es,  Paris, 

Sundmjj  Eighteenth  November,  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  just  received  your  letter 
of  yesterday. 

Xmas  No. 

I  send  you  my  paper  complete.  The  title  of  the 
next  one,  after  we  arrange  the  order,  will  follow  on 
at  the  end  of  it.  There  will  be  a  page  and  a  half  or 
two  pages,  to  carry  out  the  idea  and  close  the 
Number.  These  you  shall  have  in  the  course  of  the 
week. 

You  are  mistaken  in  supposing  White  to  be  here. 
They  are  not  coming  until  next  Friday.  Perhaps 
you  may  as  well  address  a  line  to  him  at  once,  at 
Bonchurch. 

Sheffield. 

I  think  it  highly  desirable,  under  the  circumstances, 
to  avoid  going  there — which  will  be  a  great  relief  to 


1855]  GAD'S   HILL.  187 

me,  and  will  enable  me  to  get  back  in  better  time. 
Will  you  write  a  careful  note,  to  the  effect  tliat  I 
highly  esteem  the  plain-dealing  of  the  communication, 
and  that  as  the  particular  usefulness  I  had  proposed 
to  myself  does  not  appear  to  be  attainable,  I  shall  con- 
sider the  redemption  of  the  promise  Mr.  What's-his- 
name  obtained  from  me,  postponed  for  a  time. 

The  Home. 

I  would  take  Mr.   Jephson's  case,  if  you  see  no 
reason  to  the  contrary. 

The  Liteeary  Fund 
may  be  paid,  if  you  please. 

The  Tailors'  Society 

I  cannot  of  course  render  the  required  service  to,  now. 
Similar  answer  to  all  such  applications. 

Gad's  Hill 

bothers  me,  because  Austin  was  so  strongly  of  opinion 
that  j£l,800  would  be  too  much.  I  should  think 
he  has  by  this  time  returned  from  Scotland.  Will 
you  write  to  him  a  note,  aud  let  him  know  how  the 
case  stands.  If  he  thinks  it  advisable,  let  us  j&nally 
offer  .£1,750,  If  he  docs  not — let  it  go,  since  they 
won't  take  our  money.  I  think  myself  that,  all  things 
considered,  £1,700  is  quite  enough.  Let  my  opinion 
be  as  one  Vote  among  three.  Observe.  They  are 
building  on  that  spot — have  begun  since  you  saw  it. 

Miss  Coutts. 
I  am  anxious  to  hear  if  it  be  brought  to  bear.     It 
may  not  be  within  her  plans,   but  I  have  strongly 
recommended  it  to  her. 


188  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

H.  W. 

Will  you  tell  Holdsworth  to  post  me  2  copies  of 
tlie  missing  No. — the  No.  for  November  third. 

Forster's  Bulletins 

about  things  in  general,  you  know  pretty  well  by  this 
time.  He  certainly  doesn't  find  [found]  this  one  on  any 
report  of  mine,  for  I  have  held  no  communication  what- 
ever with  him  on  the  subject  of  the  great  G.  P.  Night. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elysi^es,  Paris, 

Saturday  Night,  November  Twenty-fourth^  1855. 

My  Dear  Wills: — I  begin  my  letter  to  you  to- 
night, under  the  impression  that  one  from  you  is  on 
its  way  to  me.  The  post  has  been  so  irregular  lately, 
that  I  may  not  get  it  before  I  shall  be  obliged  to  send 
this  off.  If  I  do,  I  shall  of  course  reply  to  it  on  this 
sheet. 

I  have  received  for  the  Xmas  No. — with  very 
blank  feelings — besides  your  paper  and  "The  Inn 
Pensioner,"  "  A  Question  of  Mistaken  Identity,"  "  The 
Landlady  "  and  "  The  Actor,"  all  running,  by  an  extra- 
ordinary fatality,  on  criminal  actions  and  criminal  trials. 

"  The  Actor  "  is  altogether  out  of  the  question.  By 
Miss  Lynn,  I  suppose.  By  whomsoever — unmitigated 
Kot. 

"  The  Question  of  Identity,"  I  can  make  do,  by 
cancelling  at  least  a  page.    (I  suppose  to  be  Sidney's.) 

Do.,  ''  The  Landlady,"  by  cancelling  about  half  a 
column. 

I  trust  in  our  good  stars  that  we  shall  get  better 
matter  than  this,  or  by  Heaven  we  shall  come  poorly 


1855J  A   SHOWER-BATH   CAP.  189 

off!  The  way  they  don't  fit  into  that  elaborately 
described  plan,  so  simple  in  itself,  amazes  me. 

I  return  the  No.  The  Poem  must  really  be  polished 
before  it  can  appear :  it  is  so  painfully  defective  and 
broken.  Make  the  best  change  you  can — taking 
it  out. 

Another  Poem  received,  "  Amy's  Eeturn,"  is  so  full 
of  strange  conceits  and  strange  metre,  that  I  am  very 
doubtful  of  it.  Don't  put  it  in,  until  I  mention  it 
again.  I  take  it  to  be  by  Oilier.  Tennyson  is 
ruining  all  these  writers. 

My  corrected  Proof  of  my  own  Papers  (which  I  do 
think  suitable  to  the  purpose),  I  return  in  one  letter; 
the  Proof  of  the  new  No.  in  another  letter. 

Myself. 

Will  you  tell  John  to  get  me  a  new  Shower  Bath  cap 
made  at  the  Ironmonger's — like  the  old  one  ?  Any 
old  hat  of  mine  in  the  Schoolroom  cupboard,  will  give 
him  the  size.  It  will  then  be  ready  for  me  at  home, 
when  I  come  to  town.  My  former  one  reposes  in  the 
Pavilion  at  Folkestone. 

Peteeboro'. 

Mrs.  Watson  warns  me  that  the  best  Inn  is  small, 
and  that  we  had  best  order  our  accommodations  at 
once.  She  also  tells  me  the  name  of  it,  but  Mrs. 
Dickens  has  cleverly  lost  her  letter,  and  for  the  soul 
of  me  I  can't  remember.  Will  you  write  her  one 
line  (Hon.  Mrs.  Watson,  Rockingham  Castle,  North- 
amptonshire), and  ask  her  ?  Then,  what  we  shall 
want  at  the  hotel  will  be 

A  Bedroom  for  each  of  us — You  and  me. 

The  largest  sitting-room — for  all  of  us. 


190  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

A  bedroom — for  Mrs.  Watson. 

Some  sort  of  sitting-room  attached,  if  possible, 
for  do. 

A  double  bedded  room  for  her  2  boys. 

Dinner  at  4 — certainly  for  5 — probably  for  7  or  8. 

But  of  this  we  may  perhaps  apprise  them  2  days 
before. 

Sunday,  Twentij-fifth. 

I  want  to  give  Scheffer  the  Painter,  a  complete  set 
of  H.  W.  Will  you  direct  one — in  the  Double  Volumes 
as  far  as  they  go — to  be  sent  to  me  in  a  Parcel. 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  yesterday,  and  shall 
expect  you  on  Wednesday  night.  Come  straight 
here.  We  will  have  a  bed  ready,  near  at  hand.  We 
shall  have  the  OllifPes  and  young  Bulwer  at  dinner 
that  day,  but  you  can  go  straight  into  my  dressing- 
room,  and  preen  your  feathers.  I  fully  expected  your 
announcement  of  your  intended  arrival :  feeling  that 
we  could  never  get  thro'  the  No.  without  it. 

The  Almanack 
ought  to  have  done  more.     It  is  a  pity  (I  observe  now) 
that  my  name  is  nowhere  upon  it. 

Ceilings 
all  right.     Everything  in  the  apartment  right  now. 

Miss  Coutts 
I  have  heard  no  more  from. 

Myself. 
Not  working  very  well  at  ''  Little  Dorrit,"  since  I 
went  back  to  her  from  the  Xmas  No. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
More  Proofs  have  arrived  by  this  last  Post. 


1855J  "LITTLE   DORRIT,"  No.  4.  191 

Paris, 

Sundmj,  Thirtieth  December,  1855. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — No.  203  [303]  is  not  yet  arrived, 
but  I  think  the  Post  has  not  come  in.  I  will  go  over 
it  on  Tuesday  (shall  be  busy  tomorrow,  finishing 
''  Little  Dorrit,"  No.  4),  and  will  write  a  paper  for  the 
following  No.  and  will  also  think  of  your  enquiry 
concerning  subjects. 

Delighted  to  hear  of  the  Xmas  No. 

If  an  article  comes  to  the  office  from  Charles 
Whitehead,*  will  you  immediately  read  it,  and — 
unless  it  be  out  of  the  question  :  which  I  hope  it 
won't  be — immediately  get  it  cast  off,  and  immediately 
pay  for  it :  with  a  turn  of  the  scale  in  his  favour  ? 
He  is  going  to  New  Zealand. 

To  this  man  (envelope  enclosed)  who  wrote  about  a 
case  of  Distress  that  he  don't  know  what  to  do  with, 
will  you  write  that  you  forwarded  his  letter  to  me  at 
present  in  Paris,  and  that  I  begged  you  to  say,  with 
great  regret,  that  after  giving  the  subject  my  best 
consideration,  I  could  think  of  no  Institution  applic- 
able to  such  a  peculiar  case,  and  could  not — from  this 
distance,  and  without  personal  observation  of  the 
unfortunate  youDg  lady — advise  him  what  to  do. 

The  Turkey 
seems  to  have  been  a  stunner. 

The  Ham 
Ditto. 

•  "  Nemesis,"  by  Whitehead,  appeared  in  Hmtsrhohl  Wordn,  April  19th, 
2Cth,  185(5. 


192  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1855 

White  * 

is  in  one  of  his  fits  of  depression,  and  talks  of  going 
home  the  moment  his  time  is  up. 

DlCKf 

is  in  one  of  his  fits  of  depression — rather  uncommon 
with  him.     Thinks  he  has  overworked  himself. 

Many  happy  years, 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1856. 

Dickens  remained  in  Paris  until  the  middle  of  May, 
Wilkie  Collins  being  also  there  during  part  of  the  time. 
Dickens,  however,  made  several  visits  to  London.  In 
the  summer  he  was  again  at  Boulogne  at  the  Villa  des 
Moulineaux.  The  purchase  of  Gad's  Hill  was  con- 
cluded on  March  14th,  but  he  did  not  move  into  it 
until  the  following  June. 

He  was  working  hard  at  '*  Little  Dorrit"  through- 
out this  year. 

The  mention  of  Miss  Martineau  in  the  letters  of 
January  3rd  and  6th  deserves  something  more  than  a 
passing  word.  During  the  year  1855  a  striking  series 
of  five  articles  had  appeared  in  Household  Words. X 
They  were  all  written  by  Henry  Morley,  as  I  learn 
from  the  Office  Book,  and  they  dealt  trenchantly  and 
vigorously  with  the  question  of  accidents  to  life  and 

•  The  Rev.  James  White,  of  Bonchurch,  historian  and  writer  of  tragedies. 
"With  Dickens,"  says  Forster  ("Life,"  II.,  395),  "White  was  supremely 
popular  for  his  eager  good  fellowship." 

T  One  of  his  names  for  himself. 

J  Their  titles  and  the  dates  of  their  appearance  were  : — "Fencing  with 
Humanity,"  April  14th;  "Death's  Cyphering  Book,"  May  12th;  "Deadly 
Shafts,"  June  23rd ;  "  More  Grist  to  the  Mill,"  July  28th  ;  and  "  Two 
Shillings  per  llorse-Power,"  September  8th. 


1856]  MISS  MAETINEAU'S  ATTACK.  193 

limb  in  factories,  and  the  combination  of  manufacturers 
in  the  North  of  England  "  in  what  they  are  pleasant 
enough  " — so  runs  the  second  article — ''  to  call  a 
National  Association  for  resistance  to  the  law  which 
requires  accidents  to  be  prevented  by  the  fencing  of 
their  dangerous  machinery. ' '  Hereupon  Miss  Martineau 
took  up  her  pen — for  the  manufacturers.  She  wrote 
an  essay  for  the  Westminster  Eeview,  which,  how- 
ever, declined  it  on  account  of  its  manner  of  treatment. 
It  was  then  issued  as  a  pamphlet  by  the  aforesaid 
National  Association  of  Manufacturers. 

In  this  pamphlet  Miss  Martineau  accused  Household 
Words  of  "  unscrupulous  statements,  insolence,  arro- 
gance, and  cant."  She  abused  "Mr.  Dickens  or  his 
contributor,"  whom  she  called  "  his  partner  in  the  dis- 
grace," and  she  charged  Dickens  personally  with 
"conceit,  insolence,  and  wilful  one-sidedness."  She 
said,  "  I  like  courtesy  as  well  as  anybody  can  do ;  but 
when  vicious  legislation  and  social  oppression  are 
upheld  by  men  in  high  places,  the  vindication  of 
principle  and  exposure  of  the  mischief  must  come 
before  the  consideration  of  private  feeling."  Vicious 
legislation  meant  the  provisions  of  the  Factory  Law  ; 
its  enforcement  was  social  oppression !  She  bade 
Dickens,  "if  he  must  give  the  first  place  to  his 
idealism  and  his  sensibilities,"  to  "  confine  himself  to 
fiction ;  and  if  he  will  put  himself  forward  as  a  social 
reformer,  let  him  do  the  only  honest  thing — study 
both  sides  of  the  question  he  takes  up.  .  .  .  The 
issue,"  she  added,  "  to  which  the  question  is  now 
brought  is  that  of  the  supersession  of  either  the  textile 
manufacturers  or  the  existing  factory  law.  The  two 
cannot  longer  coexist." 

To  this  pamphlet  Morley  replied  in  an  article 
entitled  "  Our  Wicked  Mis-Statements,"  which  was 
printed  in  Household  Words  of  January  19th,  1856. 
In  language  which  is  all  the  more  forcible  on  account 
of  its  studious  moderation  and  courtesy,  he  takes  up 

D.E.  o 


194  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

Miss  Martineau's  challenge,  and  demolishes  her 
figures,  her  statements  of  fact,  and  her  arguments.  It 
is  to  the  proof  of  this  article  that  Dickens  refers  in  his 
letter  of  January  6th.  It  is  not  difficult,  in  reading 
the  article  itself,  to  perceive  that  he  himself  added 
some  touches  to  it. 

In  the  letter  of  January  10th  Dickens  says  that 
"  Mr.  Paine  might  do  this,"  i.e.,  an  article  on  the  old 
coaching  houses.  The  reference  must  have  been  to 
James  Payn,  the  novelist,  vrho  was  at  this  time  a  fairly 
regular  contributor  to  Household  Words.  His  first 
article,  "Gentleman  Cadet" — it  is  entered  in  the 
Office  Book,  by  the  way,  as  being  by  "J.  Payne  and 
Morley  " — had  appeared  in  the  issue  of  April  9th, 
1853.  He  speaks  of  it  in  his  book,  "  Some  Literary 
EecoUections "  : — "My  first  prose  article,"  he  says, 
"found  acceiptance  in  Household  Words.  It  was  the 
forerunner  of  scores  and  scores  contributed  to  the  same 
periodical,  but  no  other  gave  me  a  tithe  of  the  pleasure 
this  one  did.  ...  I  don't  know  how  many  attempts 
I  had  made  to  obtain  that  status  [of  being  an  author, 
not  a  mere  private  person]  before  I  succeeded ;  the 
perseverance  of  Bruce's  spider  as  compared  with 
mine  was  mere  impatience.  If  I  could  have  foreseen 
how  long  it  would  be  before  I  was  fated  to  be  success- 
ful again,  my  happiness  would  have  been  not  a  little 
dashed  ;*  but  as  it  was  I  was  in  the  seventh  heaven. 
Up  to  this  day,  when  I  look  back  upon  the  letter 
I  received,  announcing  the  acceptance  of  '  Gentleman 
Cadet '  (a  short  sketch  of  life  at  the  Academy),  it 
awakens  emotions.  The  writer  was  W.  H.  Wills,  who 
assisted  Dickens  in  his  editorship,  a  man  of  kindly 
nature  and  (of  this  I  was  especially  convinced  just 
then)  of  excellent  judgment.  He  was  devoted  to  his 
chief,  conscientious  to  his  contributors,  and  an 
excellent  fellow,  as  I  had  afterwards  good  reason  to 

*  Payn's  uext  contribution  appeared  on  November  5th  of  the  same  year. 


1856]  THE  BERKSHIRE  PIG.  195 

know  ;  but  it  was  a  disappointment  to  me  that  I  had 
not  heard  from  '  the  Master '  himself.  Even  that, 
however,  I  almost  forgot  when  I  received  the 
honorarium  (three  guineas)  *  for  my  little  paper.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  fame  and  fortune  had  both  opened 
wide  their  gates  to  me  at  once."  Payn  then  goes  on  to 
describe  how  he  invested  this  money  in  the  purchase 
of  a  genuine  Berkshire  pig  as  a  gift  for  his  tutor  in 
Devonshire,  where,  he  declares,  "  there  are  no  pigs 
worthy  of  the  name,  only  a  kind  of  dog  with  a  pigskin 
on  it."  Eeturning  after  the  next  vacation  he  took  the 
pig  with  him  in  a  large  hamper  by  train  to  Devonshire. 
It  was  a  hot  day  in  August,  and  when  Payn  got  out  of 
the  train  at  Bristol  for  some  liquid  refreshment,  it  struck 
him  that  the  pig  must  be  thirsty.  A  porter  fetched  a 
pan  of  water  and  together  they  got  the  hamper  and 
opened  it.  "  There  was  a  cry  of  panic,  rage  and  fear — 
a  squeal  is  no  word  for  it — a  broken  pan,  a  prostrate 
porter,  and  a  mad  pig  gone  I  .  .  .  The  next  moment 
the  creature  was  in  the  market — the  '  open  market,'  as 
it  is  called,  but  altogether  out  of  my  reach.  He  had 
joined  a  great  band  of  pigs  (though  the  owner  denied  it), 
and  identification  was  out  of  the  question.  Such  was 
the  fate  of  the  pecuniary  proceeds  of  my  first  article." 
Payn,  who  was  a  most  prolific  and  successful  novelist, 
became  editor  of  Chambers's  Journal,  and  afterwards 
editor  of  The  Cornhill,  and  "  reader  "  to  Messrs.  Smith, 
Elder  &  Co.  He  died  in  1898.  There  is  a  charming 
biographical  account  of  him,  hj  Sir  Leslie  Stephen, 
prefixed  as  an  introduction  to  "  The  Backwater  of 
Life,"  a  book  of  Payn's  essays,  published  in  1900. 


The  references  in  the  letters  of  February  12  th  and 
14th  to  Forster's  share  require  some  explanation. 
The  original  agreement  for  the  establishment  of 
Household  Words  (March  28th,  1850)  was  made,  as  I 

*  The  actual  sum  paid,  as  I  find  from  the  Office  Book,  was  half-a-guinea . 
more, 

o  2 


196  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

have  already  mentioned,  between  Dickens,  William 
Bradbury,  Frederick  Mullett  Evans,  Forster,  and 
Wills.  Dickens  was  to  take  a  half  share  of  the 
profits,  Bradbury  and  Evans  together  one-quarter, 
Forster  an  eighth,  and  Wills  an  eighth,  it  being 
stipulated  * '  that  in  consideration  of  the  share  hereby 
reserved  to  him  the  said  John  Forster  shall  from  time 
to  time  contribute  literary  articles  to  the  said  publica- 
tion without  any  additional  remuneration  for  the 
same."  Later  on  there  appears  to  have  been  a  further 
agreement,  for  I  find  amongst  Wills's  papers  an  un- 
signed copy  of  a  memorandum  of  agreement  purporting 
to  be  made  on  February  22nd,  1854.  Herein  it  is 
recited  that  Forster  has  communicated  to  his  co-pro- 
prietors his  inability  henceforth  to  contribute  literary 
articles  to  Household  Words  ;  and  it  is  agreed,  not- 
withstanding, that  he  shall  retain  his  eighth  share 
on  condition  that  he  shall,  on  February  22nd, 
1856,  pay  to  his  co-proprietors  the  sum  of  .£1,100. 
Failing  this  payment,  Forster's  share  is  to  revert  to 
the  other  proprietors.  Whether  this  agreement  was 
executed  in  those  very  terms  I  cannot  say.  It  will 
be  noted  that  in  the  letter  of  February  12th  Dickens 
assumes  to  control  the  disposal  of  Forster's  share,  and 
it  is  possible  that  he  may  have  made  some  subsequent 
and  subsidiary  arrangement  with  Bradbury  and  Evans. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  it  appears  that  half  the  share  was 
conferred  upon  Wills,  whose  pecuniary  interest  in  the 
profits  of  Household  Words  was  thus  raised  from  one- 
eighth  to  three-sixteenths,  while  Dickens  retained  the 
other  sixteenth  for  himself. 

As  bearing  upon  this  matter,  I  add  here  a  copy  of  a 
loose  fragment,  in  Dickens's  handwriting,  which  I 
found  amongst  Wills's  papers.   There  is  no  date  to  it : — 

Resolved, — 

That  the  one-eighth  share  in  the  property  of  Household  Words 
rehnquished  on  the  23rd  day  of  February  in  the  present  year 
by  Mr.  John  Forster,  has  become  the  property  of   Mr.  Charles 


185G]  "NOB   AND   SNOB."  197 

Dickens,  and  is  hereby  declared  to  belong  to  him  during  his 
life. 

That  one-half  of  that  one-eighth  share,  is,  on  the  proposal  of 
Mr.  Charles  Dickens,  now  by  him  conferred  upon  and  made  over 
to  Mr.  William  Henry  Wills  (in  addition  to  the  share  Mr.  W.  H. 
Wills  already  holds),  to  remain  his  property  so  long  as  he  shaU 
continue  to  be  Sub-Editor  of  Household  Words,  or  so  long  as 
he  and  Mr.  Charles  Dickens  shall  both  live. 

That  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Wills,  or  of  his 
ceasing  to  be  vSub-Editor  of  Household  Words,  this  said  one-half 
of  the  one-eighth  share  now  allotted  to  him  by  Mr.  Charles 
Dickens,  shall  revert  to  Mr.  Charles  Dickens  ;  who  will  then 
exercise  his  own  discretion  as  to  retaining  it,  or  bestowing  it,  or 
any  part  of  it  upon  any  future  Sub-Editor ;  as  he  may  think 
most  advantageous  to  the  interests  of  Household  Words,  and  the 
efficiency  of  his  own  connexion  with  it. 

That  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  Dickens,  the 
whole  one-eighth  share  referred  to  in  the  first  paragraph  of  this 
Memorandum  shall  become  the  property  of  his  successors  in  his 
half  proprietorship  of  Household  Words  under  the  deed  of 
partnership,  and  of  the  other  surviving  partners,  jointly  ;  in  trust 
honorably  to  employ  it,  according  to  their  discretion,  in  reward- 
ing future  Editors,  or  Sub-Editors,  or  both,  with  an  interest, 
beyond  and  over  and  above  a  salary  in  the  character  and  success 
of  Household  Words. 


Paris, 

First  January,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many  Happy  New  Years  ! 
And  so,  as  Tiny  Tim  observed,  &c. — 

I  return  the  Proofs.  As  you  observe  in  your  note, 
they  will  want  to  be  looked  over,  very  carefully. 

"The  Flag  of  England  "—Taboo. 

"  Across  the  Street " — highly  desirable  to  be  post- 
poned for  the  present.  It  is  too  manifestly  a  remnant 
from  the  Xmas  No.  and  would  now  come  too  near 
that  story  of  Thomas's. 

Lead  off  the  No.  with  "  The  Guards  and  the  Line."  * 

•  "Nob  and  Snob,"  Ifousehold  Words,  January  12th,  1856;  ascribed  to 
Measom  in  the  Oftice  Book.  This  was  Malcolm  Ronald  Laini?  Measom 
(born  in  1824),  formerly  a  soldier — he  served  in  the  Afghan  and  Gwalior 
campaigns. 


198  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

With  the  new  name  I  have  given  it  (see  to  the  proof, 
the  punctuation,  and  slovenly  composition  here  and 
there),  it  is  the  best  thing  we  can  do.  It  has  a 
distinct  and  appropriate  purpose. 

Hewitt,  all  right.  But  take  his  German  poetry  out 
altogether,  or  make  him  render  it  in  English  also. 

"  Zoological  Auction,"*  also  licensed  and  returned 
herewith. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

I  will  write  again  in  a  day  or  two. 

49,  Champs  Elysees, 

Thursday,  Third  January,  1856. 
(After  Post  time.) 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  sufficiently  irritable — 
though,  as  you  know,  the  most  amiable  of  men  ! — to 
desire  to  avoid  reading  Miss  Martiueau's  outpouring 
of  conceit,  unless  I  should  feel  myself  positively 
obliged  to  do  so.  I  have  therefore  put  the  precious 
packet  by,  without  opening  it.  I  will  come  to  a 
decision  upon  Morley's  notice  of  it,  when  I  see  the 
Proof  of  his  article.  But  my  present  impression  is, 
that  I  would  rather  (if  only  for  the  mortification  it 
will  cause  her),  not  notice  it  at  all.  The  Proof  has 
not  yet  arrived. 

Bonbons. 

Mrs.  Dickens  has  already  sent  to  her  sister  at 
Tavistock  House,  instructions  there  anent.  It  is  to 
go  back  there. 

*  By  Frank  Bucklaud,  Iloutichvld  Words,  January  12th,  1856. 


185G]  MISS  MARTINEAU.  199 

Poole's* 
quarter  I  have  paid  him.  Enclosed  is  his  proof  of 
life.  After  you  shall  have  sent  me  the  receipt  to 
sign,  and  after  I  shall  have  signed  it,  please  pay  the 
usual  Paymaster  General  order,  to  my  account  at 
Coutts's. 

Friday  Afternoon. 

The  Proof  has  arrived.  I  will  read  it  and  write  to 
you  about  it,  when  I  have  done  my  article.  Expect  it 
on  Monday  morning.     From  3  to  4  pages. 

I  send  by  this  post  a  paper  of  White's.  I  have  not 
read  it,  but  I  know  the  design  and  it  is  a  good  subject. 

He  wants  an  order  on  Lafitte's  for  all  we  owe  him, 
including  "Old  Blois"  and  this  paper — an  order  to 
pay  Eevd.  James  White  t  so  many  pounds  sterling. 
This  will  be  as  advantageous  to  him  as  gold — and  if 
you  will  make  a  parcel  of  those  books  and  so  send 
them  to  him,  he  will  Ever  Pray,  &c. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

[The  original  of  this  letter  is  wrongly  dated  1855.J 

49,  Champs  Elys6es, 

Sunday  J  January  Sixth,  185G. 

My  Dear  Wills: — I  have  read  Morley's  article, 
and  gone  very  carefully  over  that  part  of  it  which 
refers  to  Miss  Martineau.  Supposing  the  facts  to  be 
closely  examined  and  verified,  I  think  it  should  be 
printed,  and  should  go  into  the  opening  of  the  next 
No.  as  I  have  arranged  it  in  the  enclosed  proof.  I  do 
not   quite   distinctly  see  how  it  is  proved   that  the 

*  See  letter  of  June  27th,  1850,  note. 

f  See  letter  of  December  30th,  1855,  note. 


200  CHARLES  DCKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

renunciation  of  the  idea  of  paying  the  penalties  dates 
from  that  seventh  of  August  beyond  all  doubt.  I 
should  like  it  made  clearer. 

Miss  Martineau,  in  this,  is  precisely  what  I  always 
knew  her  to  be,  and  have  always  impressed  her  upon 
you  as  being.  I  was  so  convinced  that  it  was  impos- 
sible that  she  could  be  anything  else,  having  seen  and 
heard  her,  that  I  am  not  in  the  least  triumphant  at 
her  justifying  my  opinion.  I  do  suppose  that  there 
never  was  such  a  wrong-headed  woman  born — such 
a  vain  one — or  such  a  Humbug. 

If  you  think  any  little  thing  I  have  put  in,  too 
hard,  consult  Forster.  If  you  both  think  so,  take  it 
out.     Not  otherwise. 

I  should  like  Morley  to  do  a  Strike  article,"'  and  to 
work  into  it  the  greater  part  of  what  is  here.  But  I 
cannot  represent  myself  as  holding  the  opinion  that 
all  strikes  among  this  unhappy  class  of  society  who 
find  it  so  difficult  to  get  a  peaceful  hearing,  are  always 
necessarily  wrong ;  because  I  don't  think  so.  To 
open  a  discussion  of  the  question  by  saying  that  the 
men  are  "  of  course  entirely  and  painfully  in  the 
wrong,"  surely  would  be  monstrous  in  any  one.  Shew 
them  to  be  in  the  wrong  here,  but  in  the  name  of  the 
Eternal  Heavens  shew  only,  upon  the  merits  of  this 
question.  Nor  can  I  possibly  adopt  the  representation 
that  these  men  are  wrong  because,  by  throwing  them- 
selves out  of  work,  they  throw  other  people,  possibly 
without  their  consent.  If  such  a  principle  had  any- 
thing in  it,  there  would  have  been  no  civil  war ;  no 
raising  by  Hampden  of  a  troop  of  Horse,  to  the 
detriment  of  Buckinghamshire  Agriculture ;  no  self 

•  See    "  The     Manchester     Strike,"     by     Morley,     Tlmisehold     Wordtt, 
February  2ud,  185G, 


1856]  MISS  COUTTS.  201 

sacrifice  in  the  political  world.  And  0  Good  God 
when  Morley  treats  of  the  suffering  of  wife  and 
children,  can  he  suppose  that  these  mistaken  men 
don't  feel  it  in  the  depths  of  their  hearts,  and  don't 
honestly  and  honorably — most  devoutly  and  faithfully 
— believe — that  for  those  very  children  when  they 
shall  have  children,  they  are  bearing  all  these  miseries 
now ! 

I  hear  from  Mrs.  Fillonneau  that  her  husband  was 
obliged  to  leave  town  suddenly,  before  he  could  get 
your  parcel.  Consequently  he  has  not  brought  it,  and 
White's  sovereigns — unless  you  have  got  them  back 
again — are  either  lying  out  of  circulation  somewhere, 
or  are  being  spent  by  somebody  else. 

I  will  write  again  on  Tuesday.  My  article  to  begin 
the  Vol.  enclosed. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Champs  Elys^es, 

Thursday  J  January  I'enth,  1856. 

Miss  Coutts. 

My  Deak  Wills  : — I  am  happy  to  find  from  the 
enclosed  letter  (which  you  are  to  read,  after  reading 
this),  that  I  exercised  a  wise  discretion  in  saying 
nothing  to  you  of  a  conversation  I  had  with  Miss 
Coutts  on  the  day  after  my  arrival  in  town  last  time. 
She  then  told  me  that  she  was  under  particular  articles 
of  agreement  with  her  Partners  in  the  Bank,  never  to 
associate  herself  with  anyone,  in  any  kind  of  engage- 
ment or  business,  who  was  connected  with  any  House 
or  Enterprize ;  and  that  she  had  doubted,  since  her 
interview  with  you,  whether  youi'  position  in  respect 


202  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

to  Household  JVords  miglit  not  be  construed  in  tlie 
Strand  as  coming  within  the  line  drawn.  Observing 
my  invariable  custom  of  taking  the  perfectly  indepen- 
dent course  in  any  such  matter,  and  of  justifying  no 
jealousy  or  suspicion,  and  of  having  nothing  in 
common  with  anybody's  intrigues  or  approaches 
towards  her,  I  told  her  that  if  she  had  that  doubt  it 
was  enough — that  it  was  enough  for  me — that  it 
would  be  enough  for  you — and  that  there  was  an  end 
of  it.  She  then  begged  me  to  explain  it  to  you.  But 
I  thought  I  saw  so  distinctly  that  her  mind  was  not 
made  up  and  that  there  was  a  strong  probability  of  her 
coming  to  an  opposite  conclusion,  that  I  resolved  to 
make  no  explanation  to  you  for  some  little  time.  All 
this  I  now  disclose  to  you  in  the  strictest  confidence 
— my  confidence  with  her,  being  involved  therein. 
You  will  see  from  her  letter  that  she  now  contemplates 
the  kind  of  relation  I  pointed  out  to  you  as  desirable. 
I  have  told  her  in  reply  that  I  expect  to  be  in  town 
again  about  the  10th  of  February,  and  that  I  shall 
then  be  very  happy  to  pursue,  and  I  hope  settle,  the 
subject  with  her. 

Me. 

When  you  write  next,  will  you  enclose  some  stamps 
for  cheques  ? 

Is  thei-e  any  news  of  Gad's  Hill  Place  ? 

Will  you  send  John  to  Mr.  Morgan,  our  family 
apothecary  (John  laiows  his  house  near  Russell  Square), 
with  a  note  asking  him  to  call  upon  you  at  the  office 
at  a  certain  time  ?  When  he  comes,  will  you  tell  him 
that  you  have  it  in  charge  from  me  to  beg  him  to 
charge  his  attendance,  medicines,  &c.,  for  Mrs.  Hogarth 
in  her  illness  to  my  account,  and  just  to  say  nothmg 


185G]  A  REQUEST   FOR  MONEY.  203 

at  all  about  the  matter  to  lier,  or  her  family,  or  any- 
one else. 

X.  Y. 

came  here  at  12  o'clock  on  Tuesday,  by  appointment, 
at  his  solicitation.  It  was  the  second  appointment. 
On  the  first  occasion  he  was  20  minutes  behind  his 
time  (but  I  really  believe  by  an  accident),  and  of 
course  I  had  gone  out.  He  sat  here  two  hours,  telling 
me  about  his  reputable  friends  at  Erith,  and  so  forth. 
I  had  no  suspicion  that  he  was  postponing  a  request 
for  money  and  couldn't  make  up  his  mind  to  make  it, 
until  he  at  last  stammered  out  a  petition  for  £5.  I 
gave  it  him.  Please  place  that  sum  to  his  debit 
and  my  credit.  He  told  me  he  had  sent  two  articles 
to  you. 

I  derived  the  idea  that  he  was  living  very  queerly 
here,  and  not  doing  himself  much  good.  He  knew 
nothing,  I  observed,  about  the  pieces  at  the  Theatres, 
and  suggested  a  strong  flavour  of  the  wine  shop  and 
the  billiard  table.  In  Galignani,  I  see  a  quotation 
from  the  Leader^  which  unless  my  memory  deceives 
me  (which  I  don't  think  it  does),  is  a  part  of  that 
article  he  wrote  about  the  Young  Man  and  his  Uncle, 
and  called,  I  think,  "  Parisian  Nights  Entertainments." 
You  didn't  give  it  back  to  him,  did  you  ?  If  you  did, 
it  was  a  mistake.  I  meant  it  to  stand  over,  until 
Collins  should  come  here. 

H.  W. 

Forster  does  not  think  those  two  little  poems  are 
otherwise  than  original.  That  is  to  say,  he  cannot 
find  them  anywhere,  though  he  has  my  general 
impression  about  them.  Therefore  get  them  back 
from  him  and  insert  them. 


204  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

My  head  is  necessarily  so  full  of  my  own  subjects, 
that  I  have  not  thought  of  that  point  to  any  advantage, 
though  I  have  thought  of  it  at  various  times.  The 
"  Police  Enquiry  "  was  never  done,  though  I  spoke  to 
you  about  it  when  you  were  here.  Accounts  of  the 
constitution  of  foreign  armies,  especially  as  to  their 
officering,  and  as  to  the  officer's  professional  business 
being  his  professional  pride  and  study  and  not  a  bore, 
are  highly  desirable.  An  article  on  the  prices  of  fares 
on  Foreign  Eailways,  on  the  cost  of  making  them,  on 
the  public  accommodation  and  the  nature  of  the 
carriages,  &c. — contrasting  their  law  with  our  law, 
and  their  management  with  our  management — would 
be  highly  desirable.  I  suppose  Dixon  could  do  it 
directly.  Would  it  be  possible  to  strike  out  a  new 
man,  to  write  popularly  about  the  monstrous  absurdity 
of  our  laws,  and  to  compare  them  with  the  Code 
Napoleon  ?  Or  has  Morley  knowledge  enough  in  that 
direction,  or  could  he  get  it  ?  It  is  curious  to  observe 
here  that  Lord  Campbell's  Acts  for  making  compensa- 
tion to  bodily-injured  people,  are  mere  shreds  of  the 
Code  Napoleon.  That  business  of  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland  and  his  tenantry.  Couldn't  Sydney 
do  something  about  it  ?  It  would  be  worth  sending 
anybody  to  that  recusant  Farmer  who  leads  the 
opposition.  Similarly,  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  whom  the 
papers  drove  out  of  his  mind  by  agreeing  to  consider 
him  a  Phenomenon,  simply  because  he  wasn't  a  born 
ass.  Is  there  no  Scotch  source  from  whence  we  can 
get  some  information  about  that  Island  where  he  had 
the  notice  stuck  upon  the  Church  Door  that  "  no 
tenant  under  £30  a  year,  was  to  be  allowed  to  use 
spirits,  at  any  marriage,  christening,  funeral,  or  other 
Gathering."     It  would  be  a  capital  illustration  of  the 


185G]  JAMES  PAYN.  205 

monstrous  nonsense  of  a  Maine  Law.  Life  Assurance. 
Are  proposals  ever  refused — if  so,  often — because  of 
their  suspicious  character  as  engendering  notions  that 
the  assured  life  may  possibly  be  taken  ?  I  know  of 
Policies  being  refused  to  be  paid,  on  the  ground  that 
the  person  was  murdered — and  could  insert  an  anecdote 
or  two.  Poisoning.  Can't  Morley  do  something 
about  the  Sale  of  Poisons — I  suppose  Miss  Martineau's 
doctrine  of  never  never  never  interfering  with  trade, 
is  not  a  Gospel  from  Heaven  in  this  case. 

For  a  light  article,  suppose  Thomas  went  round,  for 
a  walk,  to  a  number  of  the  old  coaching  houses,  and 
were  to  tell  us  what  they  are  about  now,  and  how 
they  look.  Those  great  stables  down  in  Lad  Lane 
whence  the  horses  belonging  to  the  "Swan  with  two 
Necks,"  used  to  come  up  an  inclined  plane.  What  are 
they  doing?  the  "Golden  Cross,"  the  "Belle  Sauvage," 
the  Houses  in  Goswell  Street,  the  "  Peacock  "  at 
Islington,  what  are  they  all  about  ?  How  do  they  bear 
the  little  ricketty  omnibuses  and  so  forth  ?  What  on 
earth  were  the  coaches  made  into  ?  What  comes  into 
the  Yard  of  the  General  Post  Office  now,  at  5  o'clock  in 
the  morning  ?  What's  up  the  yard  of  the  "  Angel," 
St.  Clement's  ?  I  don't  know.  What's  in  the 
two  "  Saracen's  Heads"  ?  Any  of  the  old  brains  at 
all? 

Mr.  Paine*  might  do  this,  if  Thomas f  couldn't. 
But  Thomas  would  do  it  best. 

Your  letter  of  yesterday  has  just  arrived  as  I  close 
this.  Morley  always  wants  a  little  screwing  up 
and  tightening.  It  is  his  habit  to  write  in  a  loose 
way. 

*  See  introduction  for  this  year. 

t  See  letter  of  August  12tli,  1852,  note. 


206  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

Certainly  not  the  Burns  at  that  price  for  White,*  I 
undertake  to  say.  The  Xmas  Bills  in  the  parcel,  if 
you  please. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


49,  Champs  Elysees,  Paris, 

Monday,  Fourteenth  January^  1856. 

H.W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  the  Proof  of  *'  The 
Friend  of  the  Lions. "f  Will  you  have  the 
corrections  made  at  once,  and  then  enclose  a  revise, 
by  post,  to  Sir  Edwin  Landseer,  1,  St.  John's  Wood 
Eoad.  I  have  told  him  that  you  will  send  it  to  him, 
and  that  he  need  not  answer.  He  is  not  a  ready 
writer. 

I  think  I  have  a  good  idea  for  a  series  of  Paris 
papers  into  which  I  can  infuse  a  good  deal  of  myself, 
if  Collins  comes  here  (as  I  think  he  will)  for  some 
time. 

If  X.  Y.  really  has  not  sent  those  papers,  it  is  a 
very,  very  bad  business.  But  he  described  one  of 
them  to  me ;  and  I  shall  still  hope  that  they  may  turn 
out  to  have  been  on  the  road  while  we  have  been 
communicating  about  them. 

Poole. 

I  enclose  the  document  duly  signed.  It  is  to  go  to 
my  account  at  Coutts's,  you  observe ;  and  no  remittance 
is  to  be  made  to  Paris. 

*  See  letter  of  December  30th,  1855,  note. 

t  "  The  Friend  of  the  Lions,"  by  Dickens,  Household  Words,  February  2nd, 
1856. 


1856]  APPEALS  FOR  CHARITY.  207 

Begging  Letters. 

I  return  three  (see  P.S.) ;  retaining  Miss  Walpole's, 
late  of  the  St.  James's  Theatre.  She  has  been  a 
begging-letter  writer,  within  my  knowledge,  these 
fifteen  years. 

Mrs.  Eamo  Samee  is  a  ease  that  there  is  no  doubt 
about.  John  has  been  there  once,  and  can  do  the 
needful  again.  Something  like  a  couple  of  guineas,  I 
should  think,  would  be  the  sum  most  useful  to  her. 
But  if  there  were  any  hope  (I  fear  there  is  not)  of 
doing  her  any  real  good  with  more,  I  should  not  object 
to  more. 

The  other  two  letters  I  really  cannot  form  a  judg- 
ment upon.  But  I  a  little  distrust  ^'  E.  Martell  "  who 
advertised  in  the  Chronicle.  Do  you  think  them 
worth  enquiring  into  ? 

I  bear  such  a  long,  long  train,  that  I  am  never  rich, 

and   never   was,  and  never  shall  be.     But  ( 

excepted),  I  always  want  to  make  some  approach 
towards  doing  my  duty,  and  I  could  give  away  £20  in 
all  just  now  to  alleviate  real  distress — should  be  as  happy 
to  do  that,  as  I  should  be  the  reverse  in  lazily 
purchasing  false  comfort  for  myself  under  the  specious 
name  of  charity. 

Miss  Coutts. 

When  you  next  see  her,  will  you  mention,  if  you 
remember  it,  that  there  was  a  sum  she  was  to  have 
paid  to  my  account  at  the  bank,  which  I  had  laid  out 
for  her  (I  forget  whether  it  was  forty  pounds  or  sixty, 
but  I  gave  her  the  Memorandum),  which  was  not 
entered  in  my  book  when  I  last  saw  it.  I  have 
forgotten  to  mention  it  in  writing  to  her ;  but 
I  know  she  will  prefer  its   being  recalled  to   her 


208  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

recollection,  in  case  there  should  have  been  any 
mistake. 

I 

think  that's  all  at  present. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

P.S. — To  save  postage,  I  return  no  letter,  but 
describe  them. 

1.  Mrs.  Eamo  Samee  lives  at  John  knows  where. 

2.  Mrs.  or  Miss  E.  Martell  lives  at  18,  John  Street, 
Holland  Street,  Blackfriars. 

3.  Mrs.  Mortlock — poor  woman,  unable  to  pay  her 
rent — husband  ran  away  from  her  four  years  ago,  and 
left  her  with  two  small  children — lives  at  8,  Molyneux 
Street,  Bryanstone  Square.  Says  she  never  wrote  a 
begging  letter  before. 

49,  Champs  Elysees,  Pakis, 

Saturdaij  Night,  Nineteenth  January ^  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — 

You 

have  forgotten  that  I  asked  you  to  send,  in  the  next 
letter  you  should  write  me,  some  stamps  for  cheques. 
I  am  demented  for  want  of  them. 

H.  W. 

The  No.  did  not  arrive  today.  "Will  come,  I  suppose, 
tomorrow. 

Albert  Smith  has  sent  me  a  proof  of  his  pamphlet 
about  hotels.  I,  in  my  turn,  have  sent  it  to  Sala,  and 
suggested  to  him  that  he  may  write  an  article  on  the 
subject.  I  have  begged  him  to  send  it  to  me,  here  ; 
thinking  that  may  expedite  him. 


1856]  PARIS   MUD.  209 

I 

report  that  White's  parcel  arrived  safely. 

Also  that  if  B.  and  E.  want  to  buy  the  collection  of 
criticisms,  for  themelves,  they  are  heartily  welcome. 
As  to  me,  I  don't  want  it. 

Mark 
with   his   usual  depth   of   diplomacy   has    made   no 
mention  to  me  of  the  Boots  at  the  Adelphi.     Though 
I  had  a  letter  from  him  two  days  ago,  with  a  deal 
about  the  Adelphi  in  it. 

Mud 

at  Paris,  is  3  feet  and  f  deep. 

Sunday,  20th. 

The  !N'o.  having  arrived  this  morning,  I  have  gone 
over  it,  and  here  it  is.  It  wants  careful  correction  (as 
usual)  for  pointing,  avoidance  of  confusion  in  meaning, 
and  making  clear.  I  never  saw  such  confused  writers 
as  we  seem  to  vaccinate. 

The  Cricket  Club  paper  is  desperately  poor  ;  but  I 
have  no  Taboo  to  interpose. 

BUCKSTONE. 

Does  he  ask  whether  I  can  recommend  them  to  a 
chairman,  or  what  they  are  to  do  for  a  chairman  ? 
Have  I  anything  to  answer  on  that  head  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

49,  Champs  Elysees, 

Monday,  Twenty-eighth  January j  1856. 

H.W. 

My  Dear  "Wills  : — This  is  a  very  shy  'No.  and 
White's  is  a  very  bad  first  paper.  I  suppose  there  is 
nothing  else  ? 

D.E.  p 


210  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

My  corrections  (wliicli  are  pretty  numerous)  are 
made  in  pencil,  but  I  hope  you  will  find  them  legible. 
"  The  Rector  Abroad,"  most  relentlessly  and  ruthlessly 
Taboo. 

In  your  Programme  of  the  No.  something  called 
"The  Eussian  Budget"  is  in  that  place.  Anyway, 
the  "  Eector  "  is  out  of  the  question. 

Gad's  Hill. 

I  must  come  to  town  sooner  than  I  intended,  because 
February  is  the  short  month,  and  I  want  to  get  back 
to  my  work.  I  think  I  shall  come  on  Monday  or 
Tuesday  in  next  week.  Will  you  tell  Ouvry*  there- 
fore that  I  shall  be  glad  to  complete  the  purchase  at 
the  end  of  next  week,  if  he  will  make  the  arrangements 
accordingly. 

Miss  Coutts 

I  will  write  to,  as  soon  as  I  can  positively  fix  any 
day. 

N'O    MORE 

at  present. 

From  yours  ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

H.  W.  Office, 

Fnday,  Eighth  February ^  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  think  you  may  like  to  know 
the  result  of  my  talk  with  Miss  Coutts,  without 
waiting  until  tomorrow. 

She  asked  me  if  I  had  thought  of  any  precise 
acknowledgement  for  the  services  you  rendered  her,  as 
she  felt  it  very  difficult  to  suggest  an  amount  herseK — 
much  greater  than  she  would  have  felt  if  she  had  been 

*  Frederic  Ouvry,  Dickens's  solicitor  and  friend. 


185GJ  A  KNIFE  AND  A  HALFPENNY.  211 

able  to  place  everything  in  your  hands.  I  said  that 
whatever  I  might  have  thought,  it  seemed  right  that 
she  should  form  her  own  opinion  on  the  subject  and 
suggest  her  own  proposition.  She  then  said,  as  there 
would  be  some  little  expenses  incurred  now  and  then 
in  going  about,  and  as  she  wished  her  offer  to  include 
everything,  what  did  I  think  of  £200  a  year  ?  I 
replied  that  I  thought  it  was  handsome,  and  that  I 
would  communicate  it  to  you.* 

I  hope  you  approve  ?     You  will  have  a  friend  for 
life,  who  is  worth  having. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 


[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

H.  W.  Office, 

Friday  J  Eighth  February  ^  1856. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — Pray  acccept  my  hearty 
thanks  (and  a  halfpenny,  f  or  we  shall  quarrel)  for 
your  welcome  remembrance  of  me  yesterday.  It  gave 
me  the  greatest  pleasure,  and  the  pretty  knife  shall  be 
my  constant  companion. 

Always,  My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills, 

Yery  faithfully  yours, 
Charles  Dickens. 

49,  Avenue  des  Champs  Elysees,  Paris, 

Tuesday^  Twelfth  February,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  arrived  here  in  the  most 
brilliant  and  pleasant  manner,  to  dinner  yesterday. 

*  In  Wills'a  "  Letter  Book  "  there  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  him  to  Miss 
Ooutt3  accepting  this  arrangement. 

f  The  coin,  which  bears  date  1806,  is  attached  by  white  sill?  ribbon  to  the 
back  sheet  of  the  original  of  this  letter. 

p  2 


212  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOE.  [1856 

H.  W. 

It  seems  to  me  that  when  you  meet  to  return 
Forster's  bills  and  note  the  end  of  that  transaction,  the 
future  disposal  of  that  share  had  better  be  arranged. 
What  I  propose  to  do  with  it,  is,  to  divide  it  between 
you  and  me,  equally,  so  long  as  we  both  live  and  you 
are  the  Sub-Editor  of  the  Journal.  That  in  the  event  of 
your  death  or  your  ceasing  to  be  Sub-Editor,  the  whole 
of  it  shall  revert  to  me,  in  trust  to  bestow  it  or  part  of 
it  upon  any  other  Sub -Editor  as  I  may  think  best  and 
most  to  the  advantage  of  the  property.  And  that  in 
the  event  of  my  death,  the  whole  of  it  shall  revert  to 
the  other  proprietors,  in  trust  to  be  similarly  employed 
at  their  discretion. 

My  Birthday. 

Stanfield  called  at  the  office  on  Saturday  as  I  was 
dressing  to  go  out  to  dinner,  and  had  not  the  least 
idea  that  I  was  in  town.  The  note  of  invitation  he 
received  did  not  mention  that  I  was  coming,  and  had 
no  signature  to  it.  He  addressed  his  answer  to  you  at 
random,  and  called  on  Saturday  to  ask  you  if  he  had 
done  right. 

Faithfully  ever, 
CD. 

49,  Champs  Elys^es, 

Friday,  February  Fifteenthj  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  you  the  promised  article 
for  H.  W. 

I  have  just  received  your  letter,  and  am  truly 
pleased  to  know  that  you  are  gratified  by  what  I  have 
done  respecting  the  share.  I  hoped  you  would  be ; 
and  in  this,  and  in  all  other  little  ways  in  which  I  can 


1856]  PEOOFS.  213 

ever  testify  my  affection  for  you  and  my  sense  of  the 
value  of  your  friendship  and  support,  I  merely  gratify 
myself  by  doing  what  you  more  than  merit. 

In  haste, 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 
49,  Champs  Elys^es, 

Sunday  Night,  Seventeenth  Fehruanj,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — On  the  principle  that  one  XX 
number  is  better  than  two  X  ones  always,  I  could  so 
re-arrange  this  No.  as  to  begin  with  "  Why,"  and  get 
Collins  (who,  so  far,  is  admirable)  into  the  opening.  I 
have  taken  some  things  out  of  Sala,  where  he  is 
wrong.     He  has  not  been  in  Italy,  I  feel  sure. 

The  Poem,  very  good.  But  it  is  a  remarkable  thing, 
especially  when  that  contrast  is  to  be  presented  between 
the  flourishing  and  the  wasted  Babylon,  that  the 
thriving  city  has  not  a  single  living  figure  in  it ! 
It  is  a  very  curious  example  of  the  incomplete  way 
in  which  some  writers  seem  to  see  their  pictures. 

"Looking  Out  of  Window,''  is  so  ridiculously  printed 
in  the  huddling  up  of  the  sentences,  that  I  really 
cannot  understand  it.  There  appears  to  be  a  good 
idea  in  it,  but  I  have  become  hopelessly  confused  by  it 
and  have  given  it  up  in  despair. 

The  same  remark  applies  to  "Far  East,"  which,  in 
one  place  especially,  I  can't  at  all  understand.  Pray 
look  to  the  Proof  and  the  Copy. 

Keverting  to  my  article,  "Why,"  I  am  not  sure  but 
that  in  a  former  article  called  "  A  Few  Conventionali- 
ties," I  noticed  the  theatrical  way  of  opening  a  letter. 
Will  you  refer  back  ?  And  if  I  did  notice  it,  take  that 
passage  out."^ 

*  The  various  articles  above  referred  to  appeared  in  Household  Wordt, 


214  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

I  wish  you  would  write,  for  311,  a  temperate  but 
strong  article  about  the  cost  of  administering  the 
Literary  Fund.*  It  will  be  the  No.  before  the 
Annual  Meeting.  I  would  recite  the  object  and 
intention  of  the  Institution,  recite  the  monstrous 
expenditure,  and  plainly  call  upon  the  Subscribers  to 
look  into  the  thing  at  the  next  Annual  Meeting  on 
such  a  day.  If  you  are  too  busy  to  do  it  get 
Morley  to  do  it ;  but  let  us  have  it  in  that  No.  I 
will  go  carefully  over  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

To  Mr.  Snow,  say  it  was  a  mistake  of  Mr.  Carlyle's. 
We  have  made  no  investment  in  the  31itre  Office,  and 
I  know  nothing  about  it. 

49,  Champs  Elysees,  Paris, 

Seventeenth  February ^  1856,  Sundaij. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  ; — I  will  go  over  the  proof  tonight, 
and  write  you  what  I  think  we  had  best  do  in  respect 
of  ColLLns's  story  tomorrow.  At  the  same  time  I  will 
return  my  Proof. 

Pray  take  care  that  they  always  strike  out  that 
infernal  dash  which  I  myself  have  taken  out  five 
hundred  times,  between  the  heading  "In  so  many 
Chapters,"  and  the  numbering  of  the  chapter.  I  am 
vexed  to  see  it  in  the  last  No.  after  all. 

March  1st.  "  Why,"  was  by  Dickens.  Wilkie  CoUins's  "  A  Rogue's  Life  " 
began  in  this  number  and  was  concluded  in  the  number  of  March  2yth. 
Sala's  article  was  "  The  Great  Hotel  Question."  The  poem  was  "  A  Vision 
of  Old  Babylon, "  by  Oilier.  "  Looking  Out  of  Window  "  and  "  Far  East " 
were  by  Morley. 

*  This  was  written  by  Morley,  and  appeared  in  the  number  of  March  8th. 


1856]  A    FEENCH   TRANSLATION.  215 

CD. 

My  agreement  with  the  French  booksellers  for  the 
complete  translation,  binds  me  to  let  them  have  a 
copy  of  everything  I  have  written.  Will  you  have, 
in  the  course  of  a  week,  a  complete  collection  made  of 
my  papers  in  H.  W. }  (It  would  be  no  bad  thing, 
while  our  people  are  about  it,  to  have  it  made  in  dupli- 
cate, so  that  we  may  keep  one  at  the  office  and  regularly 
keep  it  up  to  the  time)  ;  and  when  it  is  finished  will 
you  label  it  "  From  Mr.  Charles  Dickens's  contributions 
to  Houseliold  Words,"  and  send  it  to  B.  and  E.,  to  go  into 
a  parcel  they  are  making  for  the  said  French  book- 
sellers ?  You  will  of  course  except  all  composite  articles 
and  all  suGh.  pieces  de  cir Constance  as  the  opening  address 
and  the  reference  to  the  almanack. 

And  will  you  ascertain  from  Augustus  what  wine  of 
mine  has  come  to  hand  ?  There  is  some  very  precious 
champagne  wandering  about,  somewhere. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Champs  Elys^es,  Paris, 

Sunday,  March  Second,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  been  so  occupied  with 
"  Little  Dorrif  that  I  could  not  return  you  the  revise 
of  No.  311,  in  time  for  it  to  be  of  any  use.  I  am 
sorry  to  see  the  Cold  Water  cure  classed  in  Morley's 
article  among  the  humbugs  of  the  time.  Firstly, 
because  I  believe  that  in  reason  there  is  a  good  deal 
in  it.  Secondly,  because  you  were  at  one  of  the  great 
Malvern  Doctors'  and  my  wife  was  at  another's. 
Perhaps  this  may  have  occurred  to  you  and  you  may 
have  taken  it  out. 


216  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOE.  [1856 

The  Gad's  Hill  purchase  seems  to  me  to  be  a  sort 
of  amateur  Chancery  suit  which  will  never  be  settled. 

Will  you  tell  John  that  Walter*  is  coming  home  on 
Tuesday,  and  that  I  shall  be  glad  if  he  will  meet  him 
at  the  London  Bridge  station  on  Tuesday  night  at  10. 

If  Johnson  has  not  acquitted  himself  of  that 
selection-job,  the  parcel  (tell  Bradbury  and  Evans) 
must  come  at  once  without  it.  The  French  book- 
sellers are  impatient  for  it,  and  worry  me  like  sharp 
dogs.  Pray  tell  B.  and  E.  to  get  it  dispatched  at 
once.  Ever  faithfully, 

G.J). 

P.S. — Your  letter  received,  since  I  wrote  the  fore- 
going. 

You  remember  my  telling  you  some  time  ago  that  I 
greatly  mistrusted 's  affairs. 

To  the  Gentleman  who  wants  to  play  "The  Light- 
house "  please  say  that  I  am  in  Paris — that  I  have 
referred  his  request  to  Mr.  Collins  the  Author  of  the 
piece — and  that  Mr.  Collins,  with  every  disposition 
to  oblige  him,  would  desire  to  keep  the  MS.  in  his  desk 
where  it  now  lies. 

49,  Champs  Elysees,  Paris, 

Thursday,  March  Sixth,  1856. 

C.  G.  T. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  deeply  grieved  that  such 
a  Firef  should  have  come  off  in  my  absence.  Am 
inconsolable. 

*  His  second  son,  Walter  Landor  Dickens. 

t  An  allusion  to  the  great  lire  at  Covent  Garden  Theatre  on  March  5th, 
1856.  There  ha^l  been  a  Hal  Masqu6  all  night ;  it  was  not  quite 
ended  when  the  fire  broke  out  in  the  carpenter's  shop,  between  ceiling  and 
roof,  just  before  5  a.m.,  as  tiie  band  was  being  bidden  to  strike  up  "  God 
Save  the  Queen,"  Two  hundred  revellers  were  still  there :  a  stampede — 
where  no  guest  behaved  well — was  curbed  by  the  police. 


185G]  "THE   GIANT   PROPERTY."  217 


think  I  shall  come  to  town  in  the  night  of  Sunday  ; 
being  so  abominably  used  up  as  to  the  Calais  Eailway, 
that  I  feel  desirous  to  be  relieved  from  the  contempla- 
tion of  that  enterprise  by  daylight.  After  brightening 
myself  up  in  my  usual  beaming  manner  I  will  come 
down  to  the  office ;  and — as  I  shall  be  dining  out 
every  day  that  week —  if  we  dine  together  in  peace  at 
the  Office  that  day  (meaning  Monday)  it  will  perhaps 
be  the  usefullest  thing  we  can  do.  Come  and  dine 
with  me  at  Grravesend  on  the  following  Sunday. 
Forster  and  Charley  are  coming  down  to  take  a 
respectful  look  at  the  outside  of  the  Giant  Property. 

Mark, 

I  understand,  is  helping  the  country  to  that  noble 
representative,  Mr.  Herbert  Ingram.  In  case  he 
should  return  before  I  come,  will  you  tell  him  of  the 
change  in  my  arrangements  (he  supposes  me  to  be  due 
at  London  Bridge  on  Monday  Night,  which  was  my 
original  intention),  and  that  I  am  his,  at  Household 
Words  at  8  on  Monday  Evening. 

John 

perhaps  will  come  to  the  Station  to  receive  me,  at 
about  8  on  Monday  Morning.  I  purpose  being  there, 
unless  it  should  blow  Great  Guns. 

Gad's  Hill 
I  suppose  stands  where  it  did  ? 

"  Little  Dorrit  " 
has  completed  her  sixth  ;  and  that  wonderful  man  the 
writer  thereof  is  in  that  state  of  weary  excitement 
which  is  a  part  of  him  at  such  periods. 


218  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

Will  you  tear  off,  put  in  an  envelope,  address  to 
my  bootmakers,  Hall  &  Co.,  Quadrant,  Eegent  Street, 
and  send  at  once  by  John  (he  knows  the  place), 
t'other  side. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Champs  Elysees, 

First  April,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  have  seen  by  a  letter 
from  me  received  this  morning,  that  we  are  all  right. 

I  think,  in  such  a  case  as  that  of  Collins's,  the 
right  thing  is  to  give  £50.*  I  think  it  right, 
abstractedly,  in  the  case  of  a  careful  and  good  writer 
on  whom  we  can  depend  for  Xmas  Nos.  and  the  like. 
But  further,  I  know  of  offers  for  stories  going  about 
— to  Collins  himself  for  instance — which  make  it 
additionally  desirable  that  we  should  not  shave  close 
in  such  a  case.  I  therefore  tell  him  that  you  have 
paid  in  £50. 

In  great  haste  (at  work). 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

49,  Champs  Elys^es,  Paris, 

Sunday  J  Sixth  April,  1856. 
My  Dear  Wills: — 

Fifty  Pounds  in  all  its  aspects 
all  right. 

Sala. 

I  enclose  my  reply.  Need  not  repeat  its  terms,  as 
you  will  open  and  read  it  for  your  own  guidance.     I 

•  This  was  the  sum  paid  for  "  A  Rogue's  Life." 


185G]  "THE   FROZEN   DEEP."  219 

wonder  whether  you  anticipate  its  contents,  I  shall 
be  curious  to  know. 

"  The  Sign." 
I  think  not.     I  am  doubtful,  but  I  think  not. 

Christmas. 

Collins  and  I  have  a  mighty  original  notion  (mine 
in  the  beginning)  for  another  Play*  at  Tavistock 
House.  I  pui'pose  opening  on  Twelfth  night,  the 
theatrical  season  of  that  great  establishment.  But 
now  a  tremendous  question.     Is 

Mrs.  Wills  ! 

game  to  do  a  Scotch  Housekeeper,  in  a  supposed 
country-house  with  Mary,  Katey,  Georgina,  &c.  If 
she  can  screw  her  courage  up  to  saying  Yes,  that 
country  house  opens  the  piece  in  a  singular  way,  and 
that  Scotch  housekeeper's  part  shall  flow  from  the 
present  pen.  If  she  says  No  (but  she  won't), f  no 
Scotch  Housekeeper  can  be.  The  Tavistock  House 
Season  of  4  nights  pauses  for  a  reply.  Scotch  song 
(new  and  original)  of  Scotch  Housekeeper,  would 
pervade  the  piece. 

You 

had  better  pause  for  breath. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 
Poole. 

I  have  paid  him  his  money.  Here  is  the 
Proof    of    life.     If    you   will    get    the    receipt    for 

•  "  The  Frozen  Deep." 
t  She  didn't. 


220  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

me  to  sign,    the  mouey   can  go  to    my   account    at 

Coutts's. 

Boulogne, 

Thursday  J  Seventh  August,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  record 
those  two  Chancery  cases ;  firstly,  because  I  would 
rather  have  no  part  in  engendering  in  the  mind  of  any 
human  creature  a  hopeful  confidence  in  that  den  of 
iniquity. 

And  Secondly,  because  it  seems  to  me  that  the  real 
philosophy  of  the  facts  is  altogether  missed  in  the 
narrative.  The  wrong  which  chanced  to  be  set  right 
in  these  two  cases  was  done,  as  all  such  wrong  is, 
mainly  because  these  wicked  Courts  of  Equity,  with 
all  their  means  of  evasion  and  postponement,  give 
scoundrels  confidence  in  cheating.  If  Justice  were 
cheap,  sure,  and  speedy,  few  such  things  would  be. 
It  is  because  it  has  become  (through  the  vile  dealing 
of  those  Courts  and  the  vermin  they  have  called  into 
existence)  a  positive  precept  of  experience  that  a  man 
had  better  endure  a  great  wrong  than  go,  or  suffer 
himself  to  be  taken,  into  Chancery  with  the  dream  of 
setting  it  right — it  is  because  of  this,  that  such 
nefarious  speculations  are  made. 

Therefore  I  see  nothing  at  all  to  the  credit  of 
Chancery  in  these  cases,  but  everything  to  its  dis- 
credit. And  as  to  "  owing  "it  to  Chancery  to  bear 
testimony  to  its  having  rendered  justice  in  two  such 
plain  matters,  I  have  no  debt  of  the  kind  upon  my 
conscience. 

In  haste, 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


185G]  WILKIE   COLLINS.  221 

Tavistock  House, 

Tuesday^  Sixteenth  September^  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  been  thinking  a  good 
deal  about  Collins,  and  it  strikes  me  that  the  best 
thing  we  can  just  now  do  for  H.  W.  \%  to  add  him  on 
to  Morley,  and  offer  him  Five  Guineas  a  week.  He 
is  very  suggestive,  and  exceedingly  quick  to  take  my 
notions.  Being  industrious  and  reliable  besides,  I 
don't  think  we  should  be  at  an  additional  expense  of 
£20  in  the  year  by  the  transaction. 

I  observe  that  to  a  man  in  his  position  who  is  fight- 
ing to  get  on,  the  getting  his  name  before  the  public 
is  important.  Some  little  compensation  for  its  not 
being  constantly  announced  is  needed,  and  that  I 
fancy  might  be  afforded  by  a  certain  engagement.  If 
you  are  of  my  mind,  I  wish  you  would  go  up  to 
him  this  morning,  and  tell  him  this  is  what  we 
have  to  propose  to  him  today,  and  that  I  wish 
him,  if  he  can,  to  consider  beforehand.  You  could 
explain  the  nature  of  such  an  engagement  to  him, 
in  half  a  dozen  words,  far  more  easily  than  we 
could  all  open  it  together.  And  he  would  then  come 
prepared. 

Of  course  he  should  have  permission  to  collect  his 
writings,  and  would  be  handsomely  and  generously 
considered  in  all  respects.  I  think  it  would  do  him, 
in  the  long  run,  a  world  of  good ;  and  I  am  certain 
that  by  meeting  together — dining  three  instead  of 
two — and  sometimes  calling  in  Morley  to  boot — we 
should  knock  out  much  new  fire. 

What  it  is  desirable  to  put  before  him,  is  the  regular 
association  with  the  work,  and  the  means  he  already 
has  of  considering  whether  it  would  be  pleasant  and 


222  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1856 

useful  to  him  to  work  with  me,  and  whether  any  mere 
trading  engagement  would  be  likely  to  render  him 
as  good  service.* 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Tavistock  House, 

Thursday  J  Eighteenth  September  j  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Don't  conclude  anything  un- 
favourable  with  Collins,  without  previous  reference  of 
the  subject,  and  the  matter  of  your  consultation,  to 
me.  And  again  put  before  him  clearly,  when  he 
comes  to  you,  that  I  do  not  interpose  myself  in  this 
stage  of  the  business,  solely  because  I  think  it  right 
that  he  should  consider  and  decide  without  any 
personal  influence  on  my  part. 

I  think  him  wrong  in  his  objection,  and  have  not 
the  slightest  doubt  that  such  a  confusion  of  authorship 
(which  I  don't  believe  to  obtain  in  half  a  dozen  minds 
out  of  half  a  dozen  hundred)  would  be  a  far  greater 
service  than  dis-service  to  him.  This  I  clearly  see. 
But,  as  far  as  a  long  story  is  concerned,  I  see  not  the 
least  objection  to  our  advertising,  at  once,  before  it 
begins,  that  it  is  by  him.  I  do  see  an  objection  to 
departing  from  our  custom  of  not  putting  names  to 
the  papers  in  H.  W.  itself  ;  but  to  our  advertising  the 
authorship  of  a  long  story,  as  a  Rider  to  all  our 
advertisements,  I  see  none  whatever. 

Now,  as  to  a  long  story  itself,  I  doubt  its  value  to 

*  I  think  some  arrangement  of  this  kind  was  made  between  Dickens 
and  Wilkie  Collins,  for  I  observe  that  from  October  4th  of  this  year  onward 
no  entry  of  any  payment  is  made  in  the  Office  Book  opposite  his  contributions. 
This  would,  I  presume,  signify  that  he  was  paid  a  regular  salary  as  a  member 
of  the  Household  Words  staff. 


185G]  MESMERISM.  223 

us.  And  I  feel  perfectly  convinced  that  it  is  not  one 
quarter  so  useful  to  us  as  detached  papers,  or  short 
stories  in  four  parts.  But  I  am  quite  content  to  try 
the  experiment.*  The  story  should  not,  however,  go 
beyond  six  months,  and  the  engagement  should  be 
for  twelve. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Sunday  Morning,  Twenty-eighth  September,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  suddenly  remember  this 
morning,  that  in  Mr.  Carter's  article,  ''  Health  and 
Education,'"  I  left  a  line  which  must  come  out.  It  is, 
in  effect,  that  the  want  of  Healthy  Training  leaves 
girls  in  a  fit  state  to  be  the  subjects  of  Mesmerism. 
I  would  not  on  any  consideration  hurt  EUiotson's  feel- 
ings (as  I  should  deeply)  by  leaving  that  depreciatory 
kind  of  reference  in  any  page  of  H.  W.  He  has 
suffered  quite  enough,  without  a  stab  from  a  friend. 
So  pray,  whatever  the  inconvenience  may  be  in  what 
Bradbury  calls  ''  The  Friars,"  take  that  passage  out. 
By  some  extraordinary  accident,  after  observing  it  I 
forgot  to  do  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

0.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Wednesday,  October  Fifteenth,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Will  you  and  Mrs.  Wills  come 
to  the  reading  of  the  Play,t  next  Monday  Evening  at 

*  Wilkic  CoUins's  "  The  Dead   Secret "  ran   in  Household   Words  from 
January  3r<l  to  June  13th,  1857. 
t  "  The  Frozen  Deep." 


224  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1856 

a  quarter  before  8.  Stanfield  has  not  returned  yet; 
but  there  is  so  much  to  do  with  it  that  I  think  it  best 
not  to  wait  for  him,  so  far  as  the  Dram  :  Pers  :  is 
concerned. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

OFFICE  OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS, 
A  Weeldy  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  IG,  Wellington  Street  North,  Strand, 
Thursdmj  Evg.,  l^th  Novr.,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Yes,  to  the  "  Christmas  Carol." 
—No,  to  the  "  Song  of  the  Stars." 

I  am  glad  you  like  "The  Wreck,''*  though  you 
have  not  seen  all  of  it,  I  think.  I  find  the  '*  Narrative ' ' 
too  strong  (speaking  as  a  reader  of  it,  not  as  its  writer) 
to  be  broken  by  the  stories.  I  have  therefore  devised 
with  Collins  for  getting  the  stories  in  between  his 
"  Narrative  "  and  mine,  and  breaking  neither. 

I  never  wrote  anything  more  easily,  or  I  think  with 
greater  interest  and  stronger  belief. 

The  almanack  I  returned  to  the  Printer  tonight.  I 
chose  the  longer  quotation,  because  the  quotation 
without  the  Sun  seems  to  want  its  source  of  Life. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Nineteenth  Novemhci',  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — On  the  lists  being  added  up,  I 
find  that  we  can  still  (as  I  hope),  book  some  more 

*  The  Christmas  number  this  year  was  "  The  Wreck  of  the  Golden  Mary" 
in  which  Dickens  wrote  "  The  Wreck,"  while  Collins  wrote  "  John  Steadman's 
Account "  and  "  The  Deliverance." 


1857]  G.  A.  SALA.  225 

names.     I  have  therefore  put  down  Mr.  Payn.     And 
if  you  have  any  names  to  suggest,  now  is  the  time. 

Of  course  if  you  have  any  at  any  time,  wherein  you 
may  be  interested  or  not,  you  will  let  me  know  what 
they  are.  But  this  is  the  time  at  which  such  Knes 
have  the  best  chance  of  falling  into  pleasant  places. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Tavistock  House, 

Twenty-fourth  December,  1856. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Will  you  represent  to  Mr.  Sala 
the  necessity  and  vital  importance — quite  as  much  to 
himself  as  to  Household  Words — of  his  being  punctual 
and  faithful  in  the  performance  of  the  work  he  has 
undertaken. 

Pray  take  care  that  he  distinctly  understands  beyond 
all  possibility  of  misconception,  that  he  can  have 
money  from  you  while  he  is  at  work,  as  he  wants  it ; 
and  that  when  we  come,  on  the  completion  of  ''  Due 
I^orth,"  to  close  our  accounts  I  shall  arrange  all  things 
with  him  for  his  advantage,  in  exactly  the  same  spirit 
as  if  he  had  not  given  me  occasion  to  decide  that 
Household  Words  must  not  do  him  the  injury  of 
accepting  any  further  service  at  his  hands.* 

Faithfully  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 

1857. 

In  January  of  this  year  several  performances  of 
Wilkie  Collins's  play,  "  The  Frozen  Deep,"  were  given 
at  Tavistock  House,  where  a  special  stage  had  been 

*  See  aTite,  p.  46.  Sala's  "A  Journey  Due  North"  ran  through  House- 
hold Words  from  October  4tli,  1850,  to  March  1 1th,  1857. 

D.E.  Q 


226  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1857 

constructed.  Dickens,  who  took  the  part  of  Richard 
Wardour,  was  the  stage-manager ;  the  audiences  were 
crowded  and  enthusiastic,  and  everything  went  off 
with  brilliant  success.  "  The  Frozen  Deep,''  I  may 
add,  was  produced  at  the  Olympic  Theatre  in  1866, 
but  it  failed  to  draw  the  public,  and  had  only  a  short 
run. 

On  June  1st  Dickens  took  up  his  residence  at  Gad's 
Hill  Place.  In  that  month  Douglas  Jerrold,  his 
intimate  friend,  died,  and  Dickens  at  once  set  about 
organising  a  series  of  entertainments  for  the  benefit 
of  Jerrold's  family.  These  included  performances  of 
"The  Frozen  Deep"  in  London  and  Manchester; 
readings  of  the  "  Christmas  Carol "  in  both  these 
towns ;  performances  of  two  of  Jerrold's  plays  by  pro- 
fessional actors,  and  a  lecture  by  Thackeray.  Dickens 
("Life,"  III.,  145)  had  expressed  a  "confident  hope 
that  we  shall  get  close  upon  two  thousand  pounds," 
and  Forstcr  declares  that  "  the  result  did  not  fall  short 
of  his  expectations." 

For  the  business  management  of  these  various 
entertainments  Dickens  had  secured  Arthur  Smith, 
brother  of  Albert  Smith.  "  I  have  got  hold,"  he 
writes  ("Life,"  III.,  145),  "of  Arthur  Smith  as  the 
best  man  of  business  I  know,  and  go  to  work  with 
him  tomorrow."  Arthur  Smith's  services  in  this 
capacity  were  invaluable,  and  when  Dickens  in  the 
following  year  gave  his  public  readings  Smith  again 
became  his  business  assistant,  and  so  remained  until 
his  death  in  October,  1861.  Dickens  had  a  great 
regard  and  liking  for  him. 


On  September  7th  (see  letter  of  September  6th,  jwst) 
Dickens  and  Wilkie  Collins  set  off  together  on  a  tour 
in  the  North  of  England,  the  object  being  to  gather 
notes  for  a  series  of  articles  to  appear  in  Household 
Words,  under  the  title  "The  Lazy  Tour  of  Two  Idle 


1857]  THE   UNINVITED   GUEST.  227 


Apprentices "  (Household  Words,  October  3rd,  10th, 
17th,  24th,  and  31st).  On  September  9th  they 
climbed  Carrick  Fell,  and  lost  their  way  in  coming 
down.  To  make  matters  worse  Collins  fell  and  sprained 
his  ankle,  and  could  hardly  manage  to  move.  They 
got  down  eventually,  after  running  great  risks.  (See 
a  letter  from  Dickens  to  Forster,  ''  Life,"  III.,  147). 


Tavistock  House, 

Saturday,  Third  January,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  do 

what  Mr.  asks.      But   the  substitution  of   an 

uninvited  visitor  for  an  invited  one*  is  really  put  out 
of  the  question  by  the  large  reserved  list  of  friends 
whom  we  have  been  unable  to  ask  for  want  of  room. 
No  longer  ago  than  Thursday,  I  could  not  do  exactly 
the  same  thing  for  my  old  and  intimate  friend  Maclise. 
His  place  falling  in  (through  his  being  unable  to  move 
his  leg,  which  is  injured),  I  could  not  accept  his  pro- 
posed substitute,  but  gave  it  to  the  first  on  our  old 
neglected  list.     And  I  must  beg  to  exercise  the  same 

privilege  in  respect  of  Mrs. 's. 

Ever  faithfully, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Tavistock  House, 

Sunday,  Fourth  January,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  of  course  no  other  reply 
to  your  note  than  that  I  cheerfully  acquiesce.  I  wish 
however,  in  thorough  good  humour,  that  you  did  not 
argue  the  principle   with    me,    because   it  does   not 

*  At  the  performance  of  "  The  Frozen  Deep,"  at  Tavistock  House.     The 
next  letter  refers  to  the  same  matter. 

Q  2 


228  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1857 

reasonably  admit  of  any  discussion  out  of  myself. 
The  less  I  know  of  the  people  concerned,  the  more 
unreasonable  such  a  substitution  is  in  my  mind,  and  the 
greater  the  liberty  is  of  so  misusing  an  act  of  attention. 

(This  remark  applies  solely,  I  need  not  add,  to  Mr. .) 

It  is  worth  remembering  that  among  nearly  four 
hundred  people  no  such  thing  has  been  thought  of — 
except  by  Maclise,  who  expressly  said  in  his  note  that 
he  still  did  not  consider  it  a  kind  of  thing  to  be  done. 

I  should  like  to  see  you  sometime  tomorrow  morning 
about  the  seats ;  which  will  require  a  little  manage- 
ment when  you  have  got  the  Theatre  nearly  full,  and 
will  need  to  be  perfectly  understood  beforehand.  I 
am  going  to  I^ewgate  Market  with  Mrs.  Dickens  after 
breakfast  to  shew  her  where  to  buy  fowls  ;  but  I  shall 
be  back  directly.     Shall  we  appoint  12  o'clock  ? 

I  shall  then  have  one  or  two  things  to  give  you  for 
H.  W.  also,  and  a  question  to  ask  you  about  Frederick.* 

Will  you  impress  upon  Mrs.  Wills  f  from  me,  this 
last  never-to-be-departed-from  rule.  Imagine  it 
written  in  Golden  characters. 

When  they  applaud,  invariably  stop,  until  the 

APPLAUSE  is  over. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Yes  to  the  Poems — too  golden-haired,  and  marble, 
and  all  that ;  but  meritorious  I  think. 

Tavistock  House, 

Wednesday,  Seventh  January,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — All  right.  Half  past  one  to- 
morrow ! 

*  Hi8   second  brother, 
t  Mrs.  Wills  wiV8  acting  the  part  of  Nurse  Esther  in  "The  Frozen  Deep." 


1857J        A   PRESENT   FROM   NURSE   ESTHER.  229 

I  am  in  perfect  order.  Calm — perfectly  happy 
■with  the  success — about  to  make  more  Gin  Punch. 
Draught  of  that  article  enormous. 

Macready  has  just  been  here,  perfectly  raging 
because  Forster  took  him  away,  and  positively 
shouldered  him  out  of  the  Green  Room  Supper,  on 
which  he  had  set  his  heart. 

You  write  Diabolically  plain  this  morning.  I  can't 
do  that. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

Tavistock  House, 

Eighth  February,  1857. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — Pray  accept  my  cordial 
thanks  for  your  elegant  little  present.  It  has  a 
treble  value  to  me.  Firstly  as  a  mark  of  your  remem- 
brance. Secondly,  as  replacing  a  loss  that  I  have 
much  regretted.  Thirdly,  as  a  gift  from  Nurse 
Esther,  and  an  association  with  the  pleasant  times  in 
which  I  made  that  worthy  woman's  acquaintance,  and 
conveyed  to  her  previously  benighted  mind  the  com- 
plete assurance  that  I  am  not  a  Dragon,  but  a  villified 
Lamb.  (Note.  An  L  too  many  in  the  last  Avord 
but  one.) 

Believe  me  always. 

Very  faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Tavistock  House, 

Monday  Night,  Ninth  February,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Will  you  bo  so  kind  as  to  make 
an  expedition  to  the  India  House  for  me  ?     I  get  so 


230  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR,  [1857 

mobbed  if  I  go  to  a  place  of  that  sort  myself,  that 
I  ask  the  favor.  I  did  not  know  of  the  necessity 
when  you  were  here  to-day. 

Walter  Landor  Dickens,*  being  now  of  an  age  to 
go  up  to  be  examined  for  a  Direct  appointment  as  a 
Cadet,  to  which  he  is  nominated  (the  Director  nomi- 
nating him,  being,  as  I  remember  Mr.  Lock),  the 
business  merely  is  to  ask  for  his  necessary  papers. 
I  suppose  the  Secretary's  office  to  be  the  right  one ; 
but  the  name  Walter  sends  me  this  morning  as  the 
name  of  the  gentleman  to  be  asked  for  is  Mr.  Hollyer. 

It  is  a  mere  matter  of  form.  Walter  is  going 
up  in  about  a  fortnight.  He  is  now  with  Messrs. 
Brackenbury  and  Wynne  at  Wimbledon  (if  that  be 
anything  to  the  purpose).  The  papers  are  wanted,  I 
believe,  directly — or  at  all  events  should  be  applied 
for  directly. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Tavistock  House, 

Sunday y  Sccoiid  August^  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — 

I 

write  hurriedly,  on  my  way  back  to  Gad's  Hill. 

You 
I  suppose  are  somewhere  in  Cheshire  or  Staffordshire, 
as  you  didn't  turn  up  yesterday. 

"  Frozen  Deep." 
Get  the  Circular  out,  directly.     Nights  of  acting, 

*  Dickens's  KccontI  son.  lie  wont  to  India  in  .Tnly  of  tliis  year  as  a  cadet 
in  the  East  India  ('(inipany's  seiTice,  was  tlun  transferred  to  the  42ml 
Jliy\ilandeiH,  and  died  in  India  on  Decienilxir  Hist,  IStJii. 


1857]  NAMES.  231 

Friday,  21st  and  Saturday,  22iid.*  Company  to  go 
down  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  20th.  Eehearsal 
of  3rd  Act  to  be  called  in  town  beforehand,  on  account 
of  Actresses  instead  of  Amateur  ladies.  Also  in  the 
Free  Trade  Hall  on  the  Friday  morning  at  11. 

H.  W. 

Can  you  come  down  to  Gad's  Hill  with  the  next 
proofs?  If  yes,  when?  I  purpose  not  coming  up 
(unless  obliged)  before  Friday. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

Thursday  J  Thirteenth  August,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  this  up  to  town  to  be 
posted  by  our  Doctor — come  down  to  see  Mrs.  Dickens 
— still  very  poorly. 

I  have  altered  the  names  thus : 

"  A  Journey  in  Search  of  Nothing." 

"  The  Self-made  Potter." 

"  Burning,  and  Burying." 

''The  Leaf." 

"  Sepoy  Symbols  of  Mutiny." 

"  Eleanor  Clare's  Journal." 

''  On  Her  Majesty's  Service."  f 
— But  I  have  a  misgiving  that  we  have  used  the  last 
title  before.     If  we  have  not,  retain  it.     If  we  have, 
call  the  article  either 

"  Public  Business." 
or 

''How  THE  Writer  was  Dispatch-Boxed." { 

*  At  the  Free  Trade  Hall,  Manchester. 

t  These  articles  forine<l  the  contents  of  the  issue  of  September  Gth. 

j  This  was  the  title  chosen. 


232  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1857 

Perhaps  the  latter  is  the  better  title  of  the  two.  "  On 
Her  Majesty's  Service  "  is  the  best  title  of  the  three, 
if  we  have  not  anticipated  it. 

I  will  try  to  knock  out  a  subject  or  two.  In  the 
event  of  my  Sleepy  Head  engendering  anything,  the 
great  suggestion  shall  come  to  you  by  Post. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

Sunday,  Sixth  September,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — 

Mrs.  Wills 
I  hope  is  better.     I  have  filled  them  with  sympathy 
here,  by  my  vivid  descriptions  of  your  descriptions. 
They  all  send  loves  and  messages.     Don't  forget  to 
let  me  know  how  she  goes  on  when  you  write. 

II.  W. 

I  find  in  my  official  drawer,  the  card  of  the  Writer 
of  some  foreign  paper  I  left  for  you  on  your  table. 
In  case  his  address  should  not  be  attached  to  the 
paper,  I  send  the  card  to  you. 

Jerrold  Eemembrance. 
In  the  left  hand  drawer  of  my  table  at  the  office,  is 
a  roll  of  the  usual  Theatrical  MS.—"  The  Spendthrift," 
by  poor  Jerrold.  Will  you  have  it  put  up  in  a  parcel 
for  Buckstone  with  the  enclosed  note,  and  left  at  the 
Haymarket  Theatre  ? 

*'  The  Idle  Apprentices  "  * 
go  straight  to  Carlisle,  by  9  a.m.  North  Western  Train 
on  Monday  Morning.     After  casting  about  a  good 

*  Wilkie  Collins  and  Dickens.     See  Introduction  to  this  year. 


1857]  THE   LAZY  TOUR.  233 

deal,  the  Cumberland  Fells  look  promising  to  them. 
I  will  write  you  one  line  from  Carlisle  on  Tuesday, 
giving  you  any  new  address  we  may  fix  on.  Until 
you  have  a  new  address  from  me,  write  (if  you  have 
occasion  to  write)  to  me  at  the  Post  Office  there — 
that  is  to  say,  at  Carlisle. 

I 

think  I  am  becoming  rather  inventive  again. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Carlisle, 

Monday  Night,  Seventh  September,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Conglomeration  prevailing  in 
the  Maps — and  our  minds — to  an  alarming  extent,  I 
have  the  faintest  idea  of  our  trip.  But  I  think  I  am 
perfectly  right  in  this  direction  : — You  writing  to  me 
from  London  not  later  than  Wednesday  night,  address 
me  at  the  Post  Office,  Maryport,  Cumberland.  After 
that,  address  me  at  the  Post  Office,  Doncaster.  I  thinli 
we  shall  leave  the  Maryport  (that  is  to  say,  the  coast) 
regions,  about  Friday  or  so.  We  shall  not  arrive  at 
Doncaster  until  Sunday  night.  It  is  quite  uncertain 
what  we  may  be  about  in  the  intei-val.  Once  at 
Doncaster,  the  address  is  always  Doncaster  until  you 
hear  to  the  contrary. 

Of  course  you  will  expect  copy  (as  we  agreed)  on 
Saturday  morning. 

You  will  be  charmed  to  hear  that  two  bedrooms  and 
a  sitting  room  are  not  to  be  got  at  Doncaster  for  the 
race  week  at  less  than  the  moderate  charge  of 

Twelve  Guineas  ! 
But   we   have   a   grotesque    idea   of    d(.'Soribing   the 


234  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1857 

town  under  those  circumstances,  which  I  hope 
may  be  worth  (if  anything  can  be  worth)  that 
money. 

Will  you  let  Evans  know  the  directions  I  give 
you,  as  he  will  probably  wish  to  write  to  me  while 
we  are  out. 

Collins' s  kind  regard. 

Ever  faithfully, 

Charles  Dickens. 


Angel  Hotel,  Doncaster, 

Thursday  J  Seventeenth  Septemhery  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  day  post  has  brought  me 
your  note,  and  I  write  you  by  return  a  few  words 
in  reply. 

The  other  halves  of  the  notes  I  believe  are  all  safe. 
One  in  Arthur  Smith's  hands ;  one  in  mine.  I  cannot 
remember  the  correspondent's  name,  or  anything  about 
him,  except  that  he  dated  from  Exchange  Buildings, 
Liverpool. 

All  of  my  part — three  pages  and  a  half — of  the 
second  portion  of  the  "  Lazy  Tour  "  is  already  here, 
and  in  corrected  type.  Collins  is  sticking  a  little  with 
his  story,  but  I  hope  will  come  through  it  tomorrow. 
He  is  much  obliged  by  your  enquiries  and  sympathy, 
and  sends  his  kind  regard.  He  can't  walk  out,  but 
can  limp  about  the  room,  and  has  had  two  Doncaster 
rides  in  a  carriage.  Is  to  be  treated  to  another 
tomorrow  if  he  has  done. 

Happy  to  hear  so  good  an  account  of  Mrs.  Wills. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


1857]  END   OF  THE   LAZY  TOUR.  235 

Angel,  Doncaster, 

Sunday,  Twentieth  September,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  going  into  the  country 
this  morning ;  and  I  answer  your  letter  briefly,  before 
starting. 

I  see  no  other  objection  to  the  Manchester  article  * 
than  that  it  is  commonplace. 

"  The  Bristol  Prayer  Monger  "  f  I  have  never  had 
sent  me,  and  therefore  can  do  nothing  to.  But  the 
name  suggests  care  and  caution. 

You  will  see  that  the  second  part  of  the  "  Lazy 
Tour "  is  very  long.  The  third  will  be  much 
shorter — not  more  than  half  this  quantity,  if  so 
much. 

My  next  address  will  be  Gad's  Hill.  I  think  I 
shall  leave  here  on  Tuesday,  but  I  cannot  positively 
say.  Collins  and  I  part  company  tomorrow. 
(He  can  walk  now — walked  a  mile  yesterday, 
with  a  stick.)  I  did  intend  to  return  home 
tomorrow,  but  have  no  idea  now  of  doing  that. 
Whatever  I  do,  I  shall  of  course  come  up  to  the 
scratch  with  the  third  part.  Indeed  I  have  half 
done  it. 

I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  Mrs.  Wills,  to  whom  my 
kind  regard  again.  But  you  know  how  constantly  it 
happens  that  the  first  effect  of  the  sea  is  to  exaggerate 
and  stimulate  an  ilhiess. 

Ever  faithfully, 

Charles  Dickens. 
Collins  sends  kind  regard. 

*  I'resunialily   "  The   Manchester   Schrx)!    of   Art,"  J)y  Wills,    Ifougehold 
Words,  Oeiolxir  lOth. 
f  I  canuol  I  race  tliis  article. 


236  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1857 

OFFICE   OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North, 
Strand, 
Saturday,  Twenty-Sixth  September,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  write  you  a  line  with  such 
slight  official  intelligence  as  I  have. 

Part  3  of  "  The  Lazy  Tour  "  I  have  corrected,  and 
introduced  Collins's  copy  (received  this  morning)  in  to 
[it].  I  have  instructed  B.  and  E.  to  send  him  down 
proof  to  Scarborough  to-night  and  have  instructed 
him  to  send  back  proof  to  B.  and  E.  tomorrow  night. 
There  are  some  descriptions  of  mine  in  it  (particularly 
one,  of  a  Railway  Station),  that  I  think  very  good 
indeed. 

Part  4,  I  am  at  work  on. 

Oxenford*  has  sent  a  paper  ''  Touching  the  Lord 
Hamlet, "t  giving  a  very  good  account  of  the  old 
Saxo  Grammaticus  history.  I  have  sent  it  to  the 
Printer,  with  instructions  to  send  proof  to  him. 

I  have,  at  Gad's  Hill,  a  pretty  little  paper :{:  of  a 
good  deal  of  merit,  by  one  Mr.  llolluigshead,  who 
addressed  me  as  having  tried  his  hand  in  The  Traiii.^ 
This,  too,  I  will  send  to  the  Printer's.  (I  ought  to 
have  brought  it  from  Gad's  Hill  this  morning,  but 
forgot  it.)  I  am  inclined  to  hope  that  the  writer  may 
be  very  serviceable  to  us. 

*  John  Oxenford  (1812— 1877)  wrote  many  articloa  ior  Jfouse/iold  Words. 
He  was  the  dramatic  critic  of  T/ie  Thn^x  from  1850  ior  more  than  a  <iuarter 
of  a  century. 

t  Hnuxehold  Words,  October  17th. 

J  "  I'oor  Tom,"  JIouHehold  Words,  Octolx;r  17th.  Tiie  author  was  John 
Hollingsheafi,  who  became  a  reu^ular  contributor  to  tiie  periodical.  Later  on 
he  become  celebrated  as  lessee  of  the  Oaiety  Theatre,  where— to  use  his  own 
words — he  kept  the  sacred  lamp  of  burlesque  buniini,'. 

§  In  January,  IS.'SC),  (J.  A.  Sala  and  Kdmuiid  Yates  (established  a  monthly 
magazine  called  7'he  Tnrin,  which  did  not  survive  long. 


1857]  EXPENSES.  237 

Collins  I  have  made  the  new  proposal  to,  as  we 
agreed.* 

Evans  has  been  with  me  this  morning,  to  ask  me, 
Would  I  have  a  Posting-Bill  of  "  The  Lazy  Tour  "  ? 
I  replied,  most  decidedly  Yes.  I  think  it  will  give  us 
a  good  push  into  the  public  mind,  at  a  very  dull  time 
— will  probably  do  us  good  at  Christmas. 

I  spent  while  I  was  away,  £75.  1  shall  make  a 
very  handsome  deduction  indeed,  if  I  take  off  .£15  for 
any  personal  peculiarities  in  the  order  of  march. 
That  I  will  do,  however,  and  therefore  H.  W.  has  to 
pay  £10  to  my  account  at  Coutts's. 

Which  reminds  me: — Will  you  make  a  memo- 
randum that  whenever  you  settle  accounts  with  Miss 
Coutts,  I  have  to  receive  £5  for  her  subscription  to 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Ford,  which  I  have  paid. 

Trusting  that  Mrs.  Wills  continues  to  improve, 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

Friday,  Second  Octohcr,  1857. 

My  Dear  Wills  :— I  have  yours  of  yesterday,  this 
morning. 

Know,  that  I  yesterday  sent  to  B.  and  E.  the 
greater  part  of  "  The  Lazy  Tour,"  Part  IV. ;  and  that 
by  this  post  I  send  the  rest — having  stuck  to  it  and 
finished  it  this  morning.  A  very  odd  story,  with  a 
wild,  picturesque  fancy  in  it. 

I  write  to  John,  to  tell  him  not  to  come,  if  he  has 
only  to  come  for  copy. 

Monday,  so  far  as  I  know  at  this  moment,  will  suit 
me  very  well.  In  case  I  should  have  occasion  to  go 
to  town  that  day  (possible,  but  not  probable),  I  will 
write  to  you  again  in  the  meantime. 

*  Sec  next  letter. 


238  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1857 

I  don't  remember  whether  I  have  told  you  that  I 
have  made  the  arrangement  with  Collins — that  he  is 
extremely  sensible  of  the  extra  Fifty,  and  was  rather 
unwilling  to  take  it — and  that  I  have  no  doubt  of  his 
being  devoted  to  H.  W.,  and  doing  great  sei*vice. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

1858. 

In  May  of  this  year  Dickens  and  his  wife  separated. 
Out  of  this  private  matter  there  arose  between  him 
and  his  publishers,  Messrs.  Bradbury  and  Evans, 
certain  differences  of  opinion.  These  led  to  negotia- 
tions (Avhich  are  referred  to  in  some  of  the  letters 
towards  the  end  of  the  year)  and  resulted  ultimately 
in  Dickens's  decision  to  wind  up  Household  H'ords  and 
to  start  All  the  Year  Hound  in  its  place. 

Hitherto  Dickens  had  given  readings  either  for  a 
charity  or  for  some  other  public  purpose.  This  year 
he  decided  to  read  for  his  own  profit.  With  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Arthur  Smith  as  his  business 
manager  he  planned  and  carried  out  a  tour  through 
England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  which  began  on 
August  2nd  and  ended  on  November  13th.  I  append 
a  copy  of  the  printed  list  setting  out  the  places  at 
which  he  was  to  read  and  the  dates  of  his  visits. 

Charles  Allston  Collins,  who  is  referred  to  in  the 
letter  of  August  9  th,  was  the  younger  brother  of 
Wilkie  Collins,  and  was  bom  in  1828.  In  early  life 
he  devoted  himself  to  painting  and  became  attached 
to  the  Pre-Kaphaelite  Brotherhood.  He  then  turned 
to  literature,  became  a  contributor  to  Household  Words 
and  All  the  Year  Bound,  and  published  essays,  novels, 
and  books  of  description,  amongst  which  may  be 
mentioned  **  A  New  Sentimental  Journey"  and  "A 
Cruise  upon  "Wheels."  In  1860  he  married  Dickens's 
younger  daughter,  Kate.     He  died  in  1873. 


1858] 


THE   READINGS. 


239 


MR.     CHARLES    DICKENS'S    TOUR, 

During  the  Autumn  op  1858. 

Ci.iFTON  Monday,     Aug.     2... 8  o'clock  Bath  Hotel. 

ExKTER    Tuesday,  „       3.. .8        ,,       London  Hotel. 

Plymoctu Wednesday,    ,,       4.. .8        „    )  wiunf.o  onval  Hnfol 

Thursday,       „       5...3&8„    [  Elliot  s  Royal  Hotel. 

Ci.iFTON  Friday,  ,,  6.. .8        ,,       Bath  Hotel. 

WoBCKsTER    Tuesday,         ,,  10.. .8        ,,       Mr.  Stratford's  Music  Warehouse,  The  Cross,  Worce.ster. 

WoLVERHAMi'TON  Weduesd.iy,     ,,  11. ..8        „       Swan  Hotel. 

Shrkwsbury     ...Thursday,       „  12. ..8        ,,       Mr.  Leake, Book.scller. 

Chk:stkr Friday,  ,,  13. ..8         ,       Royal  Hotel. 

LiVERPooi Wednesday,    ,,  IS. ..8        „    ■. 

,,  Thuisday,      ,,  19. ..8        ,,       „    ji     .     «j  i  u- tt  «.  i 

"  Friday  „  20.. .8        „    h  Ra<'ley  s  Adelphi  HoteL 

"  '.".",".".'.".".'.  Saturday,       ,','  21  ...3        ','    ) 

Dublin     Monday,         ,,  23. ..8        „    \ 

„         Tuesday,        „  24. ..8        ,,    I  „  .    u  ^  , 

;,         Wedne.sday,  „  25...3&S;;    F  Momson  s  Hotel. 

, Thursday,      „  26. .8        „    / 

Belfast  Friday,  ,,  27. ..8        ,,    )  ,„       •  i  tt  4.  i 

S.-.turd.Hy,       „  28..  3&8   „     }  ^'"l"''^'«l  Hotel. 

Cork     Monday,        „  30.. .8        „     )  .„,,,,,„:„,  „„fp, 

Tuesday,        „  31..ips„     [""!'<  "a' Hotel. 

Limerick     Wednesday,  Sept.  1.. .8        „    i  r.n,is„'„  H„f„i 

Thursday,      „       2...8         ,    [  ^""se  s  Hotel. 

HuDDERSFiELD  ...  Wednesday,  ,,       8. ..8        ,,       George  Hotel. 

Wakefield     Thnr.sday,      ,,       9.. .8        ,,       Stafford  Anns. 

York Friday,  „  10..  8        ,,       Mr.  Henry  Banks,  Music  Warehouse,  Stonegate. 

Harrooate Saturday,      ,,  11...3&8    „      Mr.  W.  I)aw.son,  Cheltenham  Pump  Room. 

Scarborough    ...  Monday,        „  13...3&8    ,,       Assembly  Rooms. 

Hull    Tuesday,        ,,  14. ..8        „       Mr.  R.  Bowser,  Music  Hall. 

Leeds  Wedne.sday    ,,  15. ..8        „       Scarlwro' Arms  Hotel. 

Halifax  Tliur.sday       „  16.. .8        „       White  Swan  Hotel. 

Sheffield  Friday  ,,  17. ..8        „       King's  He.id  Hotel. 

Manchester  Saturday,      ,,  18. ..8        ,,       Royal  Hotel. 

Darlington   ......  Tuesday,        „  21. ..8        „       Mr.  Robert  Swale,  Book.selIer. 

Durham  Wedne.sday,  ,,  22. ..8        ,,       Mr.  Procter,  Bookseller,  Market  Place. 

Sunderland  Tliursday,      ,,  23  ..8        „       Bridge  House  Hotel. 

NEWCASTLE  .........  tYida^,^^^      „  24...8^^  ,.    |  ^^^  ^   h„,„_  ^^^,^  Warehouse,  Grey-street. 

Edinburgh    Monday,        ,,  27. ..8        „    \ 

.....Tuesday         „  28...8        „     .  Waterloo  Hotel. 

„  Wednesday,   ,,  29...3&8   „ 

„  Thursdiiy,      „  30.. .8        „    ' 

""'T'  ::::;;:::::L1u7d'ay,'':!-  l::l    ;:  }Mr.a.aimer.s,Bookseiier. 

Aberdeen   Monday,        „       4...3&8  ,,       Mr.  John  Marr,  Music  Saloon. 

Perth  Tuesday,       ,,        5. ..8       ,,       Mr.  Drunimond,  Book.selIer. 

Glasgow Wednesday,  ,,       6. ..8        ,,    > 

Friday*^'      "       l"'l        "    [  Mr.  John  Muir  Wood,  Music  Warehouse 

"        ..!."...."!  Saturday       ','       9...S        ",    ' 

Bradford  Thursday,      „  14. ..8        ,,       Mr.  C.  OUivier,  St.  George's  Hall. 

LiVERPooi Friday,  ,,  15...3&8  ,,       Radley's  Adelphi  Hotel. 

Manchester  Saturday,      ,,  16.. .8        „       Royal  Hotel. 

Birmingham  Monday,        ,,  18. ..8        „    , 

„  Tuesday,        ,,  19. ..8        ,,    [  Hen  and  Chickens  Hotel. 

„  We<lnesday,  „  20.. .8        „    ' 

NorriNOHAM  Tliursday,      „  21. ..8       „      Mr.  T.  Forman,  Guardian  Office. 

Derby  Friday,  „  22.. .8       „       Royal  Hotel. 

Manchester  Saturday,      „  23.. .8       „       Royal  Hotel,  Manchester. 

York Monday,        „  25. ..8        „       Royal  Station  Hotel. 

T:ZZ:Z::^:^^,::  ^■:i       ;:    }Royal  station  Hotel. 

Leeds  Thursday,      „  28.. .8       „       White  Horse  Hotel. 

Sheffield  Friday,  „  29. ..8        „       King's  Head  Hotel. 

Leamington  Tuesday,    Nov.    2...3&8    „       Assembly  Rooms,  Leamington. 

WoLVERHAMFroN  Wednesday,   ,,       3. ..8        „       Swan  Hotel. 

Leicester  Thursday,      „       4. ..8        ,,       Bell  Hotel. 

Oxford    Friday,  ,,       5.. .8        ,,    )  o.      n  t  i  ^  <■    j 

Satunliy,      ,,       6...3        „    }  Star  Hotel,  Oxford. 

Southampton......  Tuesday,^^^  ,,  ^9...8       ,,    |  ^^  g^^^,^„j^  Bookseller,  High  Street. 

Portsmouth  Tliursday,      „  11...3&8   „       Mr.  Atkins,  Music  Wai-^house,  Portsoa. 

Brighton    Friday,  ,,  12. ..8        ,,    ]  „   i«- _j  u„»„i 

,„.,.,  Saturdky       ;,  13...3*?  „    }  ^^f°"*  H°^'- 


240  CHAKLES   DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

Tavistock  House, 

Monday  Night, 
Twenty -second  February^  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Letter  No.  1,  enclosed,  is  the 
Stereoscope  people's  favour  that  I  spoke  to  you 
of  this  morning.  Will  you  kindly  write  them  an 
obliging  reply,  to  the  effect  we  mentioned  ? 

Letter  No.  2  is  the  usual  thing.  I  know  no  more 
about  it. 

Collins  wishes  to  read  his  new  play  to  me,  next 
Thursday.  I  mean  to  propose  to  him  that  you  be  of 
the  party,  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  idea  will  give  him 
much  pleasm-e.  If  all  things  else  should  be  "in  a 
concatenation  accordingly,"  what  do  you  say  to  our 
dining  at  Gad's  Hill  (under  John  convoy),  reading 
there  after  dinner,  sleeping  there,  and  coming  up  next 
morning  ?  I  have  broached  this  notion  to  our  respected 
contributor. 

I  will  be  in  Wellington  Street  on  Wednesday  in 
good  time,  and  we  can  arrange  details  then. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Tavistock  House,  Tavistock  Square, 
London,  W.C, 
Saturday,  Third  April,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  been  so  hustled  by  a 
crowd  of  cares  since  I  came  home,  that  I  have  not 
written  to  you — the  rather  because,  until  I  received 
yours  from  Edinburgh,  I  had  nothing  to  say. 

Yours  arrived  very  opportunely.     Ou  the  previous 


1858]  THE   QUEEN  AND   "THE  CAROL."  241 

night,  I  had  been  going  through  Arthur  Smith's 
suggested  Hst  of  readings,  and  had  demurred  to  his 
idea  of  returning  to  several  large  places.  His  reason 
for  this,  was  exactly  yours.  I  felt  bound  to  send 
him  your  unconscious  confirmation  of  his  opinion, 
immediately.  And  he  was  extremely  glad  to 
receive  it. 

It  is  an  unspeakable  satisfaction  to  me,  to  have  left 
such  an  impression  in  Edinburgh.  I  felt  that  night, 
that  it  was  a  very  great  success ;  but  your  account  of 
it,  even  exceeds  my  hopes. 

Arthur  Smith  told  me  on  my  return,  that  he  had 
written  to  you  in  Edinburgh.  I  suppose  you  received 
his  letters  ?  I  believe  he  had  nothing  important  to 
say,  in  consequence  of  the  Glasgow  man,  the  brother 
of  the  Edinburgh  music  seller,  having  communicated 
with  him  direct. 

The  Queen  wants  to  hear  the  "  Carol."  I  have 
represented  my  dutiful  hope  that  she  will  form  one 
of  an  audience,  as  I  consider  an  audience  necessary.* 

I  have  not  a  scrap  of  news.  The  usual  papers 
come  tumbling  into  the  office  in  the  usual  way,  and 
John  cleans  the  windows  all  day  in  a  kind  of  melan- 
choly stagnation  of  mind.  Holdsworth  smiles  on  me 
with  a  limp  and  sickly  benevolence. 

All  the  chance  men  who  have  been  got  in  to  help 
the  gardener  at  Gad's  Hill  ply  the  pump,  have  run 
away,  one  after  another  (I  am  serious)  and  been  heard 
of  no  more  in  that  country.  The  last  man  became  so 
desperate  as  to  work  seven  hours,  and  fly  without  his 
money.  The  machinery  must  be  altered,  and  I  must 
establish  a  revolving  pony. 

*  A  difficulty  arose  about   this   matter,   and   it   was   eventually   found 
impossible  to  gratify  the  Queen's  wish.     See  "  Life,"  III.,  4GG. 

D.E.  R 


242  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

All  the  rest  of  my  world  turns  as  it  did,  and  that's 
not  saying  much. for  it. 

With  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  "Wills  and  all  about 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Monday  J  Ninth  August,  1858. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  was  at  the  office  on  Saturday 
at  Noon,  but  did  not  expect  to  find  you  there. 

Send  me  a  Proof  of  the  next  No.  you  make  up.  I 
must  put  a  new  name  to  Charles  CoUins's  story.* 

I  hope  Mrs.  Gaskell  will  not  stop,  for  more  than  a 
week  at  all  events,  j* 

I  am  very  glad  to  heard  from  Wilkie  that  he  is  at 
work  again. 


have  done  exceedingly  well,  I  think,  so  far.  It  is 
out  of  season  at  Clifton,  and  half  the  houses  are  shut 
up.  The  Yacht  Squadron  too,  was  gone  from  Ply- 
mouth to  Cherbourg,  and  there  were  races  at  Plymouth, 
and  public  balls.  Nevertheless  we  took  nearly  ^6400 
last  week.  Exeter  was  tremendous.  You  never  saw 
such  a  reception,  and  we  might  have  stayed  there  a 
week.  The  first  night  at  Plymouth  (very  wet)  not 
good.  The  next  morning  (great  talk  about  it  spread- 
ing in  the  town)  admirable.     That  night  (greater  talk 

*  "  Her  Face,"  Household  Words,  August  28th. 

f  Mrs.  Gaakell's  "  My  Lacly  Ludlow  "  was  appearing  in  Houselwld  Word*. 


1858J  LIVERPOOL.  243 

about  it  spreading  in  the  town)  enormous.  Similarly 
at  Clifton.  There  was  a  very  great  increase  of 
Numbers  on  the  second  night,  and  the  local  Magnate 
said  "  'Now  they  know  what  it  is,  Mr.  Dickens  might 
stay  a  month  and  always  have  a  cram."  Contrary  to 
my  impression  of  those  Western  people,  I  have  never 
seen  a  finer  or  more  subtly  apprehensive  audience  than 
at  Exeter.  Nor  did  I  ever  know  the  minutest  touches 
in  "  Little  Dombey,"  go  better  in  London  than  at  Ply- 
mouth. As  to  the  "  Boots  "  at  Plymouth,  the  people 
gave  themselves  up  altogether  (Generals,  Mayors, 
and  Shillings,  equally)  to  a  perfect  transport  of  enjoy- 
ment of  him  and  the  two  children. 

Arthur  shall  have  the  packet  tomorrow  morning 
(when  we  start  for  Worcester),  that  T  received  from 
you  this  morning. 

I  have  no  printed  lists  of  my  tour  here,  but  will 
send  Miss  Coutts  one  straight. 

I  think  that's  all  at  present. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 

Saturday^  Twenty-first  Augmtj  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  this  to  Sheffield  at  a 
flying  venture. 

The  Liverpool  audience  has  been  altogether  differ- 
ent from  our  Theatrical  experience  of  it.  Quite  as 
good  as  St.  Martin's  Hall.  A  great  call,  every  night. 
Every  point  taken.  The  nicest  and  finest  bits  in 
"  Little  Dombey,"  hitting  like  chain  shot.  Last 
night,  we  had  the  greatest  house,  both  in  numbers 

R  2 


244  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

and  money,  we  have  ever  had  :  London  included. 
There  were  2,300  and  200  guineas.  The  turn-away 
from  the  shilling  part  was  very  large.  On  each  of 
the  two  previous  nights  we  had  100  guineas,  and  (if 
the  day  should  keep  moderately  fine)  we  expect  a  very 
good  afternoon  to-day  at  3. 

The  crossing  to  Ireland  to-night  is  not  likely  to  be 
very  agreeable,  for  it  has  been  exceedingly  squally 
these  last  two  days. 

I  observe  in  H.  W.  that  that  '  *  Eunning  the  Gaunt- 
let "*  (an  article  with  good  stuff  in  it)  has  been  very 
badly  looked  over.  "That"  is  constantly  put  for 
* '  who, ' '  which  is  a  great  vulgarity.  Such  an  expression 
too  as  "  vowed  him  revenge  "  is  extremely  bad. 

Wilkie's  paper,  very  funny. f  Just  what  we 
want. 

With  kind  regard  to  Mrs.  Wills,  and  all  kinds  of 
remembrances  from  Arthur, 

Ever  faitlifuUy, 

C.  D. 

P.S.  As  new  places  are  constantly  proposing 
themselves  to  be  brought  into  the  Tour,  I  have 
arranged  with  Arthur  that  it  shall  now  be  wound  up, 
so  that  I  may  be  able  to  get  to  work  in  London,  on  the 
16th  of  November ,  with  a  view  to  the  Xraas  No.  J  I 
will  talk  over  my  idea  with  Wilkie,  and  ascertain  if 
he  feels  up  to  it.  If  he  should  not,  when  I  expound 
it  to  him, — then  perhaps  it  might  be  best  to  have  a 
round  of  Stories.     But  nous  veirons, 

*  "  Thn  Last  Victim  of  the  Gauntlet,"  by  Von  Ooetznitz,  ILmsehold 
Worth,  Auf^ust  2l8t. 

f  "The  Unknown  I'liblic,"  Htmschuld  Words,  August  21st. 

j  "A  House  to  Let,"  eontainiiit;  one  contribution  by  Dickens,  two  by 
Collins,  an<l  one  by  Dickens  and  Collins  jointly. 


1858]  A   EUSH   OF   THREE   DUCKS.  245 

EoYAL  Hotel,  Limerick, 

Thursday,  Second  September,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  purpose  being  at  the 
office  next  Tuesday  afternoon,  before  starting  again. 
I  hope  to  be  at  Tavistock  House  at  noon  on 
Saturday,  and  to  start  for  Gad's  Hill  oq  Sunday- 
forenoon. 

Belfast  and  Cork,  as  great  successes  as  Dublin. 
Fancy,  at  Cork  (by  no  means  a  large  place)  more  than 
1,000  stalls  being  engaged  for  the  three  readings.  I 
made  last  week  clear  profit,  i^340  ;  and  have  made 
in  the  month  of  August,  a  profit  of  one  Thousand 
Guineas !  This,  after  paying  our  expenses  back  to 
London,  and  halfway  to  Huddersfield.  Pretty  well,  I 
think  ? 

This  is  the  oddest  place — of  which  nobody  in  any 
other  part  of  Ireland  seems  to  know  anything. 
Nobody  could  answer  a  single  question  we  asked 
about  it.  There  is  no  large  room,  and  I  read  in  the 
Theatre — a  charming  Theatre.  The  best  I  ever  saw, 
to  see  and  hear  in.  Arthur  says  that  when  he  opened 
the  doors  last  night,  there  was  a  rush  of — three 
Ducks !  We  expect  a  Pig  to-night.  We  had  only 
c£40  ;  but  they  seemed  to  think  that,  amazing !  If 
the  two  nights  bring  .£100,  it  will  be  as  much  as  we 
expected.  I  am  bound  to  say  that  they  are  an  admir- 
able audience.  As  hearty  and  demonstrative  as  it  is 
possible  to  be.  It  is  a  very  odd  place  in  its  lower- 
order  aspects,  and  I  am  very  glad  we  came — though  we 
could  have  made  heaps  of  money  by  going  to  Dublin 
instead. 

Arthur  sends  you  his  kindest  regard.  He  has  been 
nearly  torn  to  pieces  in  the  shilling  rushes,  and  has 


246  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

been  so  flattened  against  the  walls  that  he  is  only  now 
beginning  to  "  come  round  "  again. 

My  kindest  remembrance  to  Mrs.  Wills. 

Ever  cordially, 

CD. 


Station  Hotel,  Newcastle, 
Friday  afternoon^ 
Twenty -fourth  September,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  return  the  cheque,  duly 
signed. 

I  have  just  now  walked  over  here  from  Sunderland 
(1  o'clock)  and  have  barely  had  time  to  look  at  the 
room.  It  is  new  since  we  acted  here — large — and 
capable  of  holding  a  good  deal  of  money.  I  hope  it 
will  have  a  good  deal  to  hold,  tonight  and  tomorrow. 
The  Let  is  a  very  good  one,  and  we  expect  a  large 
Take  in  payment  at  the  doors. 

You  will  be  amazed  to  hear  that  we  reaped  very 
little  profit  at  Sunderland  last  night !  I  read  in  a 
very  beautiful  new  Theatre,  and  it  looked  a  fine  house. 
But  it  was  not  fine  enough  to  pay  well.  Half  a 
million  of  money,  belonging  to  Sunderland  alone,  was 
lost  in  the  last  Bank-Smash  there ;  and  the  town  has 
never  held  up  its  head  since,  they  say. 

I  suppose  the  people  who  were  there,  had  either 
not  lost  any  money,  or  had  found  it  again.  I  never 
beheld  such  a  rapturous  audience.  And  they — and 
the  stage  together :  which  I  never  can  resist — made 
me  do  such  a  vast  number  of  new  things  in  the 
"  Carol,"  that  Arthur  and  our  men  stood  in  amaze- 
ment at  the  Wing,  and  roared  and  stamped  as  if  it 
were  an  entirely  new  book,  topping  all  the  others. 


1858]  A   HIGHLY  SENSITIVE   PLATE.  247 

You  must  come  to  some  good  place  and  hear  the 
*'  Carol."     I  think  you  will  hardly  know  it  again. 

Little  Darlington  —  in  a  mouldy  old  Assembly 
Eoom  without  a  Lamp  abutting  on  the  street,  so  that 
I  passed  it  a  dozen  times  and  looked  for  it,  when  I 
went  down  to  read — covered  itself  with  glory.  All 
sorts  of  people  came  in  from  outlying  places,  and  the 
town  was  drunk  with  the  "  Carol  "  far  into  the  night. 
At  Durham  we  had  a  capital  audience  too — led  by 
Dean  and  Chapter,  and  humbly  followed  up  by  Mayor 
and  local  Bores — but  the  Hall  not  large  enough,  and 
the  City  not  large  enough,  for  such  a  purpose  as  your 
friend's. 

So,  we  are  working  our  way  further  North.  I 
walked  from  Durham  to  Sunderland,  and  made  a  little 
fanciful  photograph  in  my  mind  of  Pit  Country,  which 
will  come  well  into  H.  W.  one  day.  I  couldn't  help 
looking  upon  my  mind  as  I  was  doing  it,  as  a  sort  of 
capitally  prepared  and  highly  sensitive  plate.  And 
I  said,  without  the  least  conceit  (as  Watkins  might 
have  said  of  a  plate  of  his)  "  it  really  is  a  pleasure 
to  work  with  you,  you  receive  the  impression  so 
nicely." 

I  mark  this  note  "  Immediate,"  because  I  forgot  to 
mention  that  I  particularly  wish  you  to  look  well  to 
Wilkie's  article  about  the  Wigan  schoolmaster,  and 
not  to  leave  anything  in  it  that  may  be  sweeping,  and 
unnecessarily  offensive  to  the  middle  class.*  He  has 
always  a  tendency  to  overdo  that — and  such  a  subject 
gives  him  a  fresh  temptation.  Don't  be  afraid  of  the 
Truth,  in  the  least;  but  don't  be  unjust. 

•  "Highly  Proper,"  Household  Words,  October  2nd,  1858.  The  article 
protested  against  the  conduct  of  a  schoolmaster  who  had  refused  to  keep 
Mr.  Alfred  Wigan's  son  at  his  school  on  the  gi-ound  that  Mr.  Wigan  was 
an  actor. 


248  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

Arthur  sends  kindest  regards.     Give  my  love  to 
Mrs.  "Wills.     I  hope  my  wholesome  influence  lasts  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

Charles  Dickens. 


Tavistock  House, 

Tavistock  Square,  London,  W.C, 
That  is  to  say  : 

Dundee, 

Saturday,  Second  Octoher^  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Pray,  pray,  pra?/,  don't  have 
Poems  unless  they  are  good.  We  are  immeasurably 
better  without  them;  "  Beyond,"  is  really  Beyond 
anything  I  ever  saw,  in  utter  badness. 

You  instructed  Payn  and  White,  that  no  story- 
Teller  must  have  been  a  Lodger  in  the  House.*  I 
don't  understand  that,  at  all.  A  Lodger  may  give 
variety  to  the  thing,  and  cannot  possibly  (that  I  see) 
weaken  the  carrying  out  of  the  Idea. 

To  Wilkie's  queries  I  reply : 

1.  I  think  I  had  best  write  the  framework  in  the 
first  person — unless  I  should  think  of  any  new  and 
odd  way  of  doing  it.  I  will  certainly  avoid  the  plain 
third  person  in  which  the  stories  will  be  narrated. 

2.  I  am  not  clear  about  following  up  the  old 
Materials,  and  making  them  doomed  and  destructive. 
I  think  it  would  end  the  thing  with  unseasonable 
grimness.  If  I  could  build  them  into  a  good  school, 
or  infirmary,  or  child's  hospital,  or  something  of  that 
sort,  it  might  be  a  more  pleasant  end,  and  a  working 
round  of  the  thing  to  something  brighter. 

*  An  allusion   to  the  Christrnjis  number,  "  A  House  to  Let."'     Neither 
Payu  nor  White,  however,  contributed  to  it. 


1858]  PROFITS.  249 

3.  If  I  were  Wilkie,  unless  I  got  an  idea  which 
would  not  admit  of  it,  I  would  certainly  make  the 
story  of  some  people  who  kept  the  house,  the  story. 
Indeed,  I  supposed  that  to  have  been  understood. 


There  was  certainly  in  Edinbui'gh,  a  coldness  before- 
hand, about  the  Headings.  I  mention  it,  to  let  you 
know  that  I  consider  the  triumph  there,  by  far  the 
greatest  I  have  made.  The  city  was  taken  by  storm, 
and  carried.  "  The  Chimes  "  shook  it ;  "  Little 
Dombey  "  blew  it  up.  On  the  two  last  nights,  the 
crowd  was  immense,  and  the  turn-away  enormous. 
Everywhere,  nothing  was  heard  but  praises — nowhere 
more  than  at  Blackwood's  shop,  where  there  certainly 
was  no  predisposition  to  praise.  It  was  a  brilliant 
victory,  and  could  have  been  represented  in  no  mere 
money  whatever. 

My  profit  there  was  £200.  My  profit  at  Newcastle 
£170  (the  room  in  the  latter  place,  very  large).  My 
profit  in  September  is  £900.  No  doubt  in  reason  this 
sum  will  have  passed  £1,000  before  I  begin  the  next 
Thousand  in  Glasgow. 

"  The  Carol  "  will  be  read  one  night  at  Birming- 
ham, and  at  Nottingham.  Those  are  the  places  nearest 
to  your  hand  I  think. 

My  love  to  Mrs.  Wills,  in  which  the  girls  unite. 
They  were  delighted  with  hMinburgh,  and  saw  it,  and 
all  about  it,  on  beautiful  days.  Payn  went  with  us  to 
Hawthornden,  and  we  laughed  all  day.  Conceive  his 
telling  me  that  Miss  Martineau  once  told  him  and  a 
certain  Lake  Doctor,  face  to  face,  that  the  reason 
why  Tlie  Times  succeeded  with  their  Foreign  corre- 
spondence was  because — they  kept  a  clairvoyante  to  do 


250  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1858 

it!!!  "You  may  observe,"  says  she,  "that  the 
Daily  Neivs  is  rapidly  improving  in  that  particular. 
Why?  Because  they  have  lately  engaged  a  clair- 
voyante,  too !  " 

With  which  large  button  of  arrogant  conceit  from 
the  head  and  front  of  a  strait  waistcoat,  I  beg  to 
subscribe  myself. 

Ever  Anti  Politico-Economically, 

Anti  De  Morganically, 

and  the  like, 

C.  D. 

[James  Payn  was  at  this  time  in  Edinburgh  as 
editor  of  Chambers^  Journal.  He  describes  this, 
his  first,  meeting  with  Dickens  in  "  Some  Literary 
Eecollections  " : — 

"  He  was  full  of  fun  and  brightness,  and  in  five  minutes  I  felt 
as  much  at  my  ease  with  him  as  though  I  had  known  him  as  long 
as  I  had  known  his  books.  It  was  not  one  of  the  days  on  which 
Hawthornden  was  open  to  the  public,  and  we  had  much  difficulty 
in  obtaining  admittance  at  the  lodge  ;  and  when  we  got  to  the 
house  we  were  detained  there  again,  and  there  was  a  difficulty 
about  seeing  the  glen.  I  went  within  doors  and  expostulated  ; 
but  for  a  long  time  without  success :  the  inmates,  I  am  sorry  to 
say,  did  not  seem  to  be  acquainted  with  Dickens's  name — a  cir- 
cimastance  which,  though  it  would  only  have  made  him  laugh  the 
more,  I  did  not  venture  to  disclose.  The  fancy  picture  which  he 
drew  of  my  detention  in  that  feudal  abode,  and  of  the  mediaeval 
tortures  which  had  probably  been  inflicted  upon  me,  made  ample 
amends,  however,  for  what  I  had  suffered  on  behalf  of  the  party. 
In  the  end  we  saw  all  that  was  to  be  seen :  and  never  shaU.  I 
forget  the  face  of  the  hereditary  guide  and  gatekeeper  when 
Dickens  tipped  him  in  his  usual  lavish  manner.  This  retainer 
had  not  thought  much  of  him  before — indeed,  had  obviously 
never  heard  of  him — but  his  salute  at  parting  could  not  have 
been  more  deferential  had  the  author  of  '  Pickwick '  been  the 
Lord  of  the  Isles.  The  humours  of  the  day  must  have  made  some 
impression  upon  Dickens  himself,  for  in  a  letter  two  years  after- 
wards  he   reminds  me  of  the  imprisonment  I  had  suffered  for 


1858]  CHARLES  COLLINS.  251 

his  sake  in  the  gloomy  cells  of  Hawthornden.  Late  that  night 
I  supped  with  him — after  his  reading — at  his  hotel,  alone  ;  after 
which  I  discarded  for  ever  the  picture  which  I  had  made  in  my 
mind  of  him,  and  substituted  for  it  a  still  pleasanter  one,  taken 
from  life."] 

Hen  and  Chickens  Hotel,  Birmingham, 

Monday  Night,  Eighteenth  October ,  1858. 

]V[y  Dear  Wills  : — I  forgot  tliree  things  in  my 
hurried  note  of  to-day  from  London. 

1.  After  the  "  Smallport  IVIonte  Christo  "*  (which 
is  very  whimsical  and  good),  I  think  the  "  Great 
Dunlierque  Failure  "|  may  go  in.  It  should  be  in 
the  next  No.  you  ma]ie  up.  (Let  me  see  the  Proof 
of  any  other  printed  paper  by  him.  A  very  little 
erasure  here  and  there,  makes  a  considerable  difference 
in  his  case.) 

2.  When  you  come  to  advertise  in  H.  W.  my  read- 
ings for  November,  put,  and  keep  as  long  as  the 
advertisement  stands,  this  line  after  Brighton,  13th 
IS^ov.,  in  small  caps. — in  a  line  by  itself — 

Which  will  terminate  the    Series   of   Keadings. 

3.  The  "Carol"  is  not  read  here.  It  is  read  at 
Nottingham  on  Thursday,  and  at  JManchester  on 
Saturday. 

A  very,  very,  wet  night. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Royal  Hotel,  Derby, 

Friday,  Twenty-Second  October.,  1858. 

IVTy  Dear  Wills  : — If  you  look  at  the  passage  in 
]!klacready's   letter,  which   refers    to  IVCrs.   IVIeredith, 

*  By  Charles  Collins,  Ilouseliold  Words,  October  16th. 

t  Also  by  Charles  Collins,  Household  Words,  October  30th. 


252  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

you  will  see  what  I  mean  when  I  ask  you  if  you  will 
write  to  him,  and  enquire  whether  he  will  receive  the 
money  for  the  paper,  or  what  is  to  be  done  with  it ; 
telling  him  at  the  same  time  how  much  the 
sum  is. 

Was  she  paid  for  her  former  paper  or  papers  ?  That 
passage  in  her  note  looks  to  me  as  if  she  never  had 
been  paid. 

Immense  at  Nottingham  last  night.  Immense  final 
night  at  Birmingham.     Let,  very  good  here. 

I  have  a  bad  cold  all  over  me. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Wolverhampton, 

Wednesday,  Third  November ,  1858. 

H.  W. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  remember  that  at  one  of 
our  Audit  Meetings — I  think,  the  last — I  suggested  to 
Mr.  Evans  that  we  ought  to  have  the  vouchers  for  the 
payments  made,  and  charged  as  being  made,  by  their 
Firm,  on  account  of  II.  W.  It  arose  out  of  our  speak- 
ing of  paying  for  the  paper  in  ready  money. 

Mr.  Evans  replied  to  that,  that  we,  the  other  pro- 
prietors in  H.  IV.  were  not  responsible  for  the  paper. 
He  said  so,  with  confidence ;  and  I  did  not  urge  the 
point,  though  I  had  great  doubts  of  his  being  legally 
right. 

I  have  now  ascertained  that  we  are  legally  respon- 
sible. Will  you  therefore  let  Mr.  Evans  know  that 
at  the  Audit  of  next  week,  we  wish  to  have  produced 
to  us,  the  Vouchers  for  their  payments  on  account  of 
Household   Words.      There  can    be  no   Audit,    I   am 


1858]  DICKENS  AND   HIS   PUBLISHERS.  253 

assured,  without  such  Touchers,  except  in  the  mere 
name. 

Pray  do  not  fail  to  see  to  this. 

Ever  faithfully, 
Charles  Dickens. 

Swan,  Wolverhampton, 

Wednesday  Third  November,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  you  the  note  that  I 
think  best  calculated  to  be  shewn  or  sent  by  you  to 
B.  and  E.  on  the  voucher  question. 

In  reference  to  my  own  copyrights,  you  seem  to 
have  omitted  by  accident,  the  most  important  question 
of  all.  It  is,  ivhether  I,  being  the  largest  proprietor  in 
the  boolcs,  can  change  the  printer  and  publisher  of  them  if 
I  choose  ?  On  this,  the  whole  question  of  the  extent 
of  our  power  and  the  manner  of  its  exercise,  depends. 
There  is  no  sub-agreement  whatever,  as  to  printing 
and  publishing. 

N^ow,  will  you  again  see  Ouvry*  on  this  vital  ques- 
tion— which  absolutely  governs  our  proceeding  as  to 
Household  Words — and  communicate  his  opinion  on 
that  point,  to  Forster,  along  with  his  opinion  on  the 
other  points  ?  I  camiot  consult  with  Forster  to  any 
purpose,  until  we  know  exactly  how  we  stand  on  this 
head. 

As  to  Wilkie's  paper — I  see  no  necessity  whatever, 
for  altering  Fauntleroy's  name.  But  I  wouldn't  use 
it  in  the  Title.  I  would  call  it  a  "A  Paradoxical 
Experience  "  "j" — or  "  A  Curiosity  of  Life  " — or  some- 
thing like  that. 

I  purpose  being  at  the  office,  at  1  on  Friday. 
Little  Leamington  came  out  amazingly  yesterday. 

*  See  ante,  p.  210,  note. 

f  Jlougehold  Wm'ds,  November  13th. 


254  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS   EDITOR.  [1858 

We  took  £130 J  and  turned  away  many  hundreds 
of  people.  We  have  200  stalls  let  here  for  to-night ; 
which,  considering  the  size  of  the  town,  is  unusually 
large. 

And  I  think  that's  all  I  have  to  say,  at  present. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

EoYAL  Hotel,  Southampton, 

Wednesday,  Tenth  November ^  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  Audit  Meeting  appears  to 
have  gone  off,  pretty  much  as  I  expected  it  would. 
I  felt  sure  of  their  producing  the  documents — I  meant 
to  have  written,  Vouchers. 

In  the  Forster  matter  I  do  not  agree  with  you.  For 
this  reason.  It  is  clear  to  my  mind  that  no  discussion 
can  take  place  hetween  me  and  Bradbury  and  Evans. 
My  being  there  would  shut  up  any  approach  to  it, — 
simply  because  I  have  steadily  refused  to  enter  on  any 
approach  to  it,  however  distant,  and  have  left  Evans's 
advances  disregarded.  Now,  with  Forster  they  are 
under  no  such  restraint,  and  even  in  the  event  of  no 
discussion  taking  place  with  him  at  the  meeting 
(which  is  the  most  probable  aspect  of  Monday),  they 
still  have  him  legitimately  in  the  business,  and  can  at 
any  time  go  to  him  or  write  to  him.  They  could  not 
do  so  with  me,  because  they  have  already  found  it  to 
be  unavailing. 

As  to  his  management  of  the  interview,  I  have  not 
a  doubt  of  his  arranging  it  as  I  shall  entreat  him  to 
do,  and  I  can  write  to  him  from  Brighton,  expressly 
laying  down  the  course  that  I  want  him  to  take.  That 
course  shall  be,  accommodation  if  it  be  possible.  It  is 
not  possible  with  me,  in  a  matter  in  which  I  have  so 


1858]  NEGOTIATIONS.  255 

deep  a  personal  feeling.  It  never  can  come  about, 
unless  they  have  a  third  person  before  them,  without 
seeking  such  person. 

For  these  reasons,  I  would  get  the  Power  of 
Attorney — a  Power  to  Forster  to  act  for  me,  in  matters 
relating  to  H.  W,  I  must  execute  it.  Could  you  not 
come  down  to  Brighton  with  it  ?  We  shall  be  there 
by  mid-day  on  Friday.  I  would  write  my  letter  to 
Forster  then  and  there,  and  you  should  see  it,  and  see 
that  it  is  to  your  satisfaction.  I  feel  convinced  that 
he  would  not  depart  from  a  course  agreed  upon.  You 
know  how  emphatically  he  feels  that  the  first  thing 
above  all  others,  is,  not  to  injure  the  property. 

In  order  to  avoid  unnecessary  conglomeration  of  our 
accounts,  let  me  give  you  a  check  for  your  part  of  the 
Audit  Day  balance.     It  is  enclosed. 

Don't  go  to  press  with  Wilkie's  paper  about 
Sidney  Herbert,  Guizot,  The  Heir  of  Redclyffe,  and 
Dr.  Dulcamara,*  without  my  seeing  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

OFFICE  OF  HOUSEHOLD  WORDS. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North, 

Strand,  W.C, 
Saturday,  Twentieth  Now.,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — As  I  find  you  are  not  coming 
here  to-day,  I  post  this  to  let  you  know  that  we  have 
returned  to  Tavistock  House. 

•  "  Dr.  Dulcamara,  M.P.,''  by  Dickens  and  Wilkie  Collins,  Household 
Words,  December  18th,  1858.  The  article  was  directed  against  some 
opinions  on  literature  expressed  by  Sidney  Herbert  in  an  address  at  the 
Warminster  Athenaeum,  in  which  he  had  quoted  with  approval  M.  Guizot's 
praise  of  "  The  Heir  of  iledclyii'e." 


256  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1858 

Also,  that  Wilkie  and  I  have  arranged  to  pass  the 
whole  day  here,  on  Monday  Week,  the  ^9th,  to  connect 
the  various  portions  of  the  Xmas  No.  and  get  it 
finally  together.  If  you  arrange  to  have  them  ready 
at  the  Printers,  for  such  cuts  and  such  short  bits  of 
copy  as  we  shall  send  them  from  time  to  time  in  the 
course  of  that  day,  we  can  finally  correct  it  before  we 
leave  here  that  night,  and  you  can  send  your  last  revise 
for  Press  next  day. 

This  will  enable  you,  now  to  settle  on  what  day  the 
Xmas  No.  shall  be  published,  and  to  announce  the 
said  day  in  our  No.  sent  to  Press  next  week. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

No.  16,  Wellington  Street  North, 

Strand,  W.C. 
Thursday  J  Twenty-fifth  Novr.,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  want  to  prepare  you  for  an 
H.  W.  disappointment,  in  case  it  should  come  off. 
My  introduced  paper  for  the  Xmas  No.  involves  such 
an  odd  idea — which  appears  to  me  so  humorous,  and 
so  available  at  greater  length — that  I  am  debating 
whether  or  no  I  shall  cancel  the  paper  (it  has  gone  to 
the  Printers  today)  and  make  it  the  Pivot  round 
which  my  next  book  shall  revolve. 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

Tavistock  House,  Tavistock  Square, 

London,  W.C, 
Monday,  Twentieth  December,  1858. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  see  from  the  enclosed, 
that  we  are  quite  right. 


1858]        WINDING   UP   HOUSEHOLD  WORDS.  257 

Will  you  go  round  to  Ouvry's,  and  ask  them  to 
write  the  notice  they  recommend,  for  me  to  sign.  If 
they  approve,  I  should  wish  it  to  be  served  on  B.  and 
E.  from  their  office,  and  it  certainly  had  best  be  served 
at  once — today.  A  duplicate  of  it  should  be  served 
upon  you.  I  am  finishing  my  little  paper  for  the 
New  Year,  and  will  wait  at  home  until  you  bring  or 
send  me  the  legally  copied  notices  for  my  signature. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


D.E. 


IV 
ALL   THE    YEAR    ROUND 


g  2 


THE  AGREEMENT   FOE  ALL   THE   TEAR  BOUND. 


1859. 

The  last  number  of  Household  Words  was  published 
on  Saturday,  May  28th,  and  the  first  number  of  All 
the  Year  Bound  on  Saturday,  April  30th.  The  two 
periodicals  thus  overlapped  one  another  by  five  num- 
bers. The  ofiice  of  Household  Words  had  been  at  16, 
Wellington  Street ;  the  office  of  All  the  Year  Bound 
was  at  No.  11  in  the  same  street.  The  price  of  the 
new  periodical  was  the  same  as  that  of  the  old — 2d. 
As  a  consequence  of  the  diif erences,  previously  referred 
to,  between  Dickens  and  Messrs.  Bradbury  and  Evans, 
a  bill  in  Chancery  had  been  filed,  and  by  order  of  the 
Court  "  the  right  to  use  the  name  of  the  periodical 
Household  Words,  together  with  the  printed  stock  and 
stereotyped  plates  of  the  same,"  was  put  up  to  auction 
in  one  lot  on  Monday,  May  16th.  Dickens  himself 
was  the  purchaser.  Accordingly  the  words  "with 
which  is  incorporated  Household  Words  "  were  added 
to  the  title  of  All  the  Year  Bound^^  in  the  fifth  number 
(May  28th).  The  formal  legal  agreement  (of  which  I 
have  a  copy)  "  for  the  carrying  on  of  a  Periodical 
called  All  the  Year  Bound''  was  not  executed  until 
August  2nd.  It  is  made  between  Dickens  and  Wills, 
and  the  following  are  its  chief  provisions  : — 

(1)  Dickens  and  Wills  are  to  be  the  proprietors. 

(2)  Both  in  regard  to  profits  and  losses  Dickens  is  to  be 
interested  as  to  f  and  Wills  as  to  ^. 

(3)  Dickens  is  to  be  Editor  at  a  yearly  salary  of  £504. 

(4)  Wills  is  to  be  General  Manager  with  control  (subject  to 
powers  resented  to  Dickens)  of  the  Commercial  Department. 

(5)  Wills  is  to  be  Sub-Editor  at  a  yearly  salary  of  £420. 

(6)  If  Wills  retires  from  the  Sub-Editorship  Dickens  is  to  have 
a  I  share,  Wills  retaining  ^. 

(7)  The  name  All  the  Year  Round  and  the  goodwill  attached  to 
tlie  publication  to  l^e  the  exclusive  property  of  Dickens. 


262  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

"A  Tale  of  Two  Cities  "  ran  in  All  the  Year  Bound 
from  April  30th  to  November  26th.  It  also  appeared 
concurrently  in  monthly  parts  from  June  to  December. 
In  October  Dickens  went  on  another  reading  tour  in 
England. 


^o 


Edmund  Yates  (1831 — 1894),  who  is  referred  to  in 
the  letter  of  April  11th,  was  a  contributor  both  to  the 
old  and  the  new  periodicals.  For  many  years  he  had 
a  place  in  the  Post  Office,  but  left  in  1872.  In  1858 
Dickens  had  taken  the  part  of  Yates  in  a  dispute  with 
Thackeray,  which  led  to  Yates's  expulsion  from  the 
Garrick  Club,  and  Dickens  and  Thackeray  consequently 
became  temporarily  estranged.  Yates  wrote  several 
novels,  and  in  1874  founded  The  World,  which  he 
continued  to  edit  until  he  died. 


I  have  no  Office  Book  for  All  the  Year  Bound  such 
as  I  have  used  for  the  references  in  the  letters  to 
Household  Words.  It  will,  therefore,  be  impossible  for 
me  to  identify  the  authors  of  articles  in  the  former 
publication,  except  in  the  case  of  Dickens  himself. 
His  contributions  to  All  the  Year  Bound  were,  I 
believe,  identified  from  the  office  "  set "  of  the 
journal  by  the  late  Mr.  F.  J.  Kitton.  Where  that  set 
may  now  be  I  do  not  know.  Dickens's  contributions 
to  both  journals  were  included  by  Mr.  B.  W.  Matz  in 
Vols  35  and  36  of  "The  National  Edition  of  the 
Works  of  Charles  Dickens  "  (Chapman  &  Hall,  1908). 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Saturday,  Eighth  January,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — This  is  the  first  of  some  papers 
by  "  The  Clergyman's  Wife  "  I  told  you  of.*  Get  it 
printed  for  the  next  No.  we  make  up. 

*  Mrs.  Blacker.     She  contributed  two  [Holers   under  the   title  of   "The 


1859]  TAVISTOCK   HOUSE.  263 

I  have  rather  a  strong  hope  that  she  may  turn  out 
a  very  useful  contributor.  I  have  read  several  of  her 
papers,  and  have  generally  advised  her  how  to  make 
them  better.  She  will  have  another  to  follow  this 
with.  She  has  an  excellent  knowledge  of  a  poor 
country  parish,  some  very  pretty  womanly  humour, 
some  very  good  womanly  observation,  and  a  decided 
faculty  for  writing. 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

[This  letter  is  written  on  the  back  of  the  letter  from 
John  Forster  which  follows.  Dickens  had  an  idea  of 
letting  Tavistock  House  on  a  long  lease,  and  from 
this  Forster  and  Wills  dissuaded  him.] 

Friday  Evening, 

Fourteenth  January ^  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  will  no  longer  doubt  that  you 
are  right,  and  I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  affectionate 
earnestness  with  which  you  have  represented  me  to 
myself,  as  wrong.  Will  you,  as  early  as  practicable 
tomorrow  morning,  communicate  to  the  agent,  That  I 
find  my  daughters  so  averse  to  the  long  term  that  I 
must  withdraw  from  that  proposal,  even  if  the  other 
party  should  make  it.  But  that  I  beg  him  to  complete 
the  Inventory  (if  it  be  not  already  done),  and  to  take 
the  house  upon  his  books,  as  being  to  Let  from  and 
after  next  June  inclusive,  for  any  term  not  less  than 
6  months,  or  more  than  12. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Clergyman's  Wife"  to  Household  Wordt,  January  22nd  and  29th.  Another 
paper  from  her  pen  was  "  The  Highest  Testimonials,"  in  Household  Words, 
March  5th. 


264  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

[From  Jolin  Forster  to  Dickens.] 

19,  "Whitehall  Place, 

lith  January,  1859. 

My  Dear  Dickens  ; — Lizzie*  must  judge  for  herself, 
and  I  will  not  utter  a  word  to  influence  her.  But  at 
once  I  must  say  for  mt/ae\f  that  I  entertain  no  doubt 
whatever  that  such  a  step  would  viost  decidedhj  be  very 
damaging  indeed.  With  you  I  say,  it  is  not  matter  of 
reasoning  so  much  as  of  feeling  :  and  I  would  not  have 
you  at  this  moment  do  such  a  thing  for  8,000,  far  less 
800  pounds.  Do  not  laugh  at  this.  I  feel  it  very 
strongly. 

Nay,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  I  would  grieve  if  you 
did  not  give  the  girls  some  society  at  Tavistock 
llouse  before  you  think  of  letting  it  at  all.  Only 
this  morning  at  breakfast  I  was  talking  to  Lizzie  about 
it,  and  I  must  ask  her  to  tell  you  exactly  what  I 
said. 

You  read  in  a  very  masterly  way  last  night,  indeed. 
I  was  immensely  moved  altogether  by  your  execution 
of  both  pieces  of  reading. 

Always  affectionately, 

John  Forster. 

Tavistock  House,  Tavistock  Square, 
London,  W.C, 

Mondaij,  Eleventh  April^  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Wilkie  has  done  a  few  very 
good  paragraphs  for  the  "  Eegister. "  t  You  will  have 
them  from  him  to-day. 

•  Mrs.  John  Forster. 

t  The  "  Occasional  Register,"  a  series  of  crisp  parafjraphs  on  matters  of 
cuTTcnt  interest,  was  a  feature  of  the  early  nunibcr.s  of  All  the  Year  Hound. 


1859]  "A  TALE  OF  TWO   CITIES."  265 

It  occurs  to  me  that  for  that  purpose  Edmund  Yates 
is  likely  to  be  very  useful.  He  reads  all  the  news- 
papers and  periodicals,  and  is  smart.  I  have  told  him 
that  you  will  write  to  him  on  the  subject.  But  perhaps 
the  best  way  will  be  if  you  will  make  an  appointment 
with  him — say  for  today  or  tomorrow — then  shew  him 
the  proof  and  explain  the  little  idea,  and  see  if  he  can 
get  some  paragraphs  ready  for  'No.  2.  (He  will  be  at 
the  Post  Office  all  today.) 

Wilkie  has  a  notion  that  if  he  could  see  what 
matter  we  have  at  the  Printers,  he  might  find  out  for 
himself  what  kind  of  articles  would  be  most  useful  for 
No.  2.  He  will  join  us  at  the  office  at  about  2  to- 
morrow.    Will  you  have  your  slips  there  ? 

If  I  should  find  to-day  that  the  St.  Alban's  business 
yields  any  good  notion,  I  will  come  down  to  the  office 
early  tomorrow  morning,  and  write  another  short  paper 
for  No.  I. — to  strengthen  it.  But  this  is,  of  course,  contin- 
gent on  there  being  anything  in  what  I  am  going  to  see. 

I  send  with  this,  for  Whiting's,  two  more  weekly 
parts  of  the  ''  Tale  of  Two  Cities." 

I  have  just  heard  from  an  excellent  practical  man, 
that  nothing  could  be  better  done  than  our  posting  in 
the  great  towns.  At  Birmingham  particularly  it  is 
described  as  quite  wonderful. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Thursday,  Tiventy -eighth  April,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Very  glad  to  get  your  letter  this 
morning,  and  to  receive  the  latest  possible  report  of  our 
goiugs  on. 


266  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

The  result  of  the  Whitefriars  circulars  will  be,  in 
the  main — as  we  pretty  well  know — to  heap  over 
them,  a  vast  accumulation  of  expensive  miscellaneous 
matter. 

But,  there  can  be  no  harm  in  your  writing  to  as 
many  people  as  come  into  your  mind,  from  time  to 
time,  some  such  letter  as  this, 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  beg,  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Charles 
Dickens,  to  inform  you  that  if  it  should  be  com- 
patible with  your  engagements  to  write  for  this 
Journal,  it  would  afford  him  the  greatest  pleasure 
to  secure  your  valuable  co-operation. 

^ow,  or  at  any  other  time,  I  shall  be  happy  to 
pursue  this  subject  and  to  enter  into  details  with 
you,  if  you  will  allow  me." 

I  would  send  this,  at  once,  to  both  the  TroUopes,  and 
to  George  Eliot,  care  of  Blackwood — with  a  private 
seal  on  the  latter  letter.  I  would  also  address  it  to 
Ruffini,*  with  a  note  to  Mrs.  Carlyle,  asking  her  if 
she  can  direct  the  envelope.  I  would  also  write  to 
Mrs.  Gaskell,  refen-ing  back  to  that  story  she 
mentioned. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Thursday  Night,  Ttventy-FAghth  April,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  write  this,  for  John  to  bring 
up  in  the  morning. 

*  Giovanni  RuflBni,  an  Italian  refugee  and  an  English  novelist  :  author  of 
'  Dr.  Antonio,  &c."  A  slight  account  of  him  and  a  longer  one  of  his 
hrotlicr,  Agostino,  appears  in  the  late  Professor  Masson  s  "  Memories  of  Two 
Cities,"  recently  published. 


1859]  EDUCATION  OF  WOMEN.  267 

It  grieves  me  to  hear  that  you  are  still  so  unwell. 
Pray  tell  me  by  next  post  how  you  are.  I  am  quite 
remorseful  that  you  should  have  had  to  go  down  to  the 
Rolls  Court. 

Hullah's*  daughter  (an  artist,  who  is  here),  tells  me 
that  certain  female  students  have  addressed  the  Royal 
Academy,  entreating  them  to  find  a  place  for  their 
education.  I  think  it  a  capital  move,  for  which  I  can 
do  something  popular  and  telling,  in  the  "  Eegister." 
Adelaide  Procter  is  active  in  the  business,  and  has  a 
copy  of  their  letter.  Will  you  write  to  her  for  that, 
and  anything  else  she  may  have  about  it :  telling  her 
that  I  strongly  approve,  and  want  to  help  them 
myself. 

Do  get  better, 

And  believe  me  ever. 

Yours, 
CD. 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Saturday,  Thirtieth  April,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  hope  and  trust  you  are  better 
today.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  distressed  I  am  to  think 
ot  your  being  ill  at  this  time,  with  its  anxieties 
necessarily  upon  you. 

Referring  to  the  Liverpool  newspaper  and  its  Piracy, 
I  find  it  expressly  stated  in  the  Piracy  that  the  act  is 
not  to  be  repeated.  I  think,  therefore,  that  I  should 
not  communicate  with  Ouvry.     What  I  recommend  is 

•  John  Pyke  Hullah  (1813 — 1884),  musical  composer  and  teacher  of 
Binding.  lie  had,  in  183fi,  composed  the  music  of  "  The  Village  Coijuettcs  " 
to  the  libretto  of  Dickens. 


268  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

your  writing  to  Mr.  Whitly,  telling  him  you  have 
received  this  from  me  : — 

"  I  received  this  morning,  the  Liverpool  paper 
you  sent  me,  and,  at  first,  felt  with  you  the 
imperative  necessity  of  stopping  that  injustice. 
But  on  looking  to  Mr.  Whitly's  introduction  of 
the  reprint,  I  observe  that  he  expressly  states  that 
he  does  not  mean  to  repeat  the  offence.  Under 
these  circumstances  I  think  it  would  be  ungene- 
rous— though  I  most  strongly  object  to  his  pro- 
ceeding— to  put  him  to  any  expense.  And  if  you 
will  tell  him  so  from  me,  good-humouredly,  I 
hope  the  matter  may  be  considered  as  ended." 

Very  sorry  to  hear  of  Chapman  and  Hall's  confusion. 
I  shall  be  at  Tavistock  House  again  on  Monday 
afternoon. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


OFFICE  OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  11,  Wellington  Street  North, 

Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Tuesday  Evening,  Third  May,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — All  right. 

I  have  corrected  Yates's  article  carefully,  and  it 
really  is  very  good.     Morley's  so  so.     Also  corrected. 

Thombury's*  is  only  this  moment  come  in,  and 
(not  having  yet  read  it),  I  cannot  yet  say  whether  it  is 
good  or  no.     I  thought  Mrs.  Blacker's  article  so  very 

*  George  Walter  Thornbury  (1828 — 1876),  novelist,  writer  of  books  of 
travel,  &c.     He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  Household  Words. 


1859]  "PROOFS"   AND  ''REVISES."  269 

good — the  Nurse's  story  so  exceedingly  well  done — 
that  I  considered  it  best  to  send  it  to  the  Printer's  at 
once.  I  shall  not  have  it  for  another  hour.  I  will 
then  decide  between  it  and  Thornbury's  ;  selecting  for 
this  No.  the  better  of  the  two.  I  have  prepared 
Whitings  for  the  uncertainty  between  them. 

I  send  a  few  letters — thinking  I  may  confuse  you, 
if  I  answer  them  myself.  Perhaps  we  had  best  see 
the  Eussian  papers  referred  to  in  one  of  them. 

I  shall  see  you  again  tomorrow. 

Be  quite  comfortable.     All  as  right  as  possible. 

Love  to  Mrs.  Wills. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Thursdmjj  First  July,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Very  funny  indeed,  about  the 
amiable  Mr.  Joyce.  What  fools  they  are  !  As  if  a 
mole  couldn't  see  that  their  only  chance  was  in  a 
careful  separation  of  themselves  from  the  faintest 
approach  or  assimilation  to  All  the  Year  Round  \* 

I  am  very  much  relieved  by  finding  that  you  had 
Parts  enough  yesterday.  Shall  I  still  write  that  note 
to  Chapman  and  Hall  ?  Or  issue  solemnly  friendly 
summons  to  council  at  the  office  next  Tuesday  ?    son 

Whitings  have  made  a  mistake  this  morning,  for 
which  I  dare  say  I  am  myself  mainly  responsible, 
through  having  used  the  word  "  Proofs,"  instead  of 
"revises." 

They  have  sent  me  my  own  soiled  and  cut-about 

*  An  allusion,  no  doubt,  to  Once  a  Week,  the  periodical  started  by 
Messrs.  T?radbury  and  Evans  aftor  their  breach  with  Dickens. 


270  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

Proofs  of  Chapters  X.,  XL,  XIL,  and  XIII.  What  I 
wanted,  was,  fair  revises  of  those  chapters.  Will  you 
send  round  for  them,  and  then  post  them. 

I  don't  think  I  am  any  better  to-day.  I  am  rather 
disposed  to  feel  it  in  my  general  health,  and  am 
languid  and  short  of  starch.  Original  complaint, 
much  Avhere  it  was. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

P.  S.  I  once  asked  you,  or  thought  of  asking  you 
(I  cannot  recollect  which),  if  you  would  let  the  house 
agent  know  that  I  would  now  let  Tavistock  House,  for 
not  less  than  4  months  or  more  than  12  ?  Also  that 
the  Stanfield  room  has  been  done  since  he  saw  it  ? 
Also  that  the  house  is  generally  dismantled  for  the 
preservation  of  the  furniture,  but  that  he  himself 
knows  what  its  normal  state  is. 

Have  you  ever  done  so  ?  If  not,  will  you  give  him 
a  call  when  near  ? 


Cripple's  Arms, 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Friday,  Eighth  Jiihj^  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  line — to  say  that  I  got  your 
letter  this  morning,  and  that  Wilkie  and  I  have  been 
much  delighted  by  your  account  of  Meredith's*  Poem. 
It  is  too  hot  to  do  much,  but  I  am  at  work,  and  see 
the  storyt  in  a  wonderful  glass. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

*  George  Meredith  had  been  an  occasional  contributor  to  Household  Wo7'ds. 
t  "  A  Tale  of  Two  Cities." 


1859J  "THE  TITLE   IS  MINE."  271 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Saturday,  Twenty-third  July,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — First,  as  to  the  agreement.  I 
have  had  a  letter  from  Ouvry,  in  which  he  said  that 
Hobhouso  did  not  see  the  possibility  of  making  you 
Sub-Editor  in  any  other  way.  I  told  him  that  as  he 
knew  what  was  meant,  he  had  best  explain  his  diffi- 
culties to  you — which  he  seems  not  to  have  done. 

If  the  other  points  about  your  share  and  salary, 
are  really  as  you  take  them  to  be,  they  are  wrong,  of 
course.  But  as  to  the  Title,  I  must  be  quite  positive 
and  immoveable,  and  place  myself  at  once  beyond  the 
possibility  of  mistake  with  you.  My  design  is,  and 
always  has  been  (I  have  purchased  the  experience  on 
which  I  formed  it,  rather  dear)  that  if  I  choose  to 
abolish  the  thing  it  is  abolished,  and  that  the  Title  is 
Mine.     Nothing  would  induce  me  to  depart  from  this. 

In  the  matter  of  petitioning  the  Court,  I  quite 
understood  what  you  had  done,  but  was  alarmed  by 
Ouvry's  having  given  them  to  understand  that  we  had 
any  idea  of  doing  such  a  thing. 

As  to  Evans — I  have  some  reason  to  believe  that 
what  he  reports  in  reference  to  Harper's  is  quite  true. 
I  do  not  think  it  at  all  discouraging  or  surprising,  but 
I  believe  it  to  be  true. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Sunday  Evening,  Sixteenth  October,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  found  the  enclosed  letter 
marked  A  with  a  lot  of  printed  documents,  and  six 


272  CHAELES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1859 

pints  of  eau  de  Cologne,  and  two  small  boxes  of 
eau  de  Cologne,  at  Tavistock  House  last  night. 
Will  you  return  the  article,  saying  that  it  is  not 
admissible,  and  that  the  eau  de  Cologne  awaits  his 
directions. 

In  reference  next  to  the  enclosed  marked  B. 

I  have  a  letter  from  Poole  reminding  me  that  I 
have  not  remitted  his  quarter's  pension,  and  that  he  is 
aground  for  the  means  of  going  on.  Will  you 
kindly — at  once — hand  the  order  to  Coutts's  for  its 
remittance  to  him  by  Monday  night's  post. 

My  Eeadings  List  is  on  the  other  side. 

The  missing  letter  to  you,  I  posted  at  the  Ipswich 
chief  Post  Office,  last  Tuesday  morning  about  11. 

Will  you  have  the  enclosed  for  Lever  posted  and 
prepaid. 

Will  you  remind  Whitings  that  I  have  not  yet  seen 
a  Proof  of  my  own  No.  6. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

[In  Dickens's  handwriting  on  the  back-sheet  of  the 
preceding  letter.] 

Date.  Place.  Addeess. 

Monday,        17th  Oct....  Cambridge Post  Office. 

Tuesday,       18th    ,,  ...  Cambridge Post  Office. 

Wednesday,  19th     ,,  ...  Peterborough...  Railway  Hotel. 

Thursday,     20th     „  ...  Bradford George  Hotel. 

Friday,  21st     „  ...  Nottingham    ...  George  Hotel. 

Saturday,      22nd    ,,  ...  Nottingham    ...  George  Hotel. 

Sunday,         23rd    ,,  ...  Ijondon   Office. 

Monday,        24th     „  . . .  Oxford    Star  Hotel. 

Tuesday,       25th     „  ...  Oxford    Star  Hotel. 

Wednesday,  26th     „  ...  Birmingham  ...  Hen  and  Chickens. 

Thursday,      27th     „  ...  Cheltenham    ...  Messrs.    Hale   &    Son, 

Piano  Forte  Ware- 
house. 


1859]  GREAT   DOINGS  AT   OXFORD.  273 

Hen  and  Chickens,  Birmingham, 

Wednesday,  Twenty-sixth  October,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  wonderful  thing  in  your 
letter  is,  that  you  don't  say  whether  Evans  has  paid 
any  money !  I  take  it  for  granted  that  he  has  paid 
none,  but  you  don't  say  so.  The  rest  of  the  prospects 
and  projects  all  right. 

Great  doings  at  Oxford.  Princes  of  Wales,  and 
what  not.  Last  night  there,  was  as  bad  a  night  as 
ever  you  saw,  but  the  people  really  came  up  nobly. 
It  has  rained  here  ever  since  last  Wednesday — is 
raining  now — is  all  mud  and  water — and  I  do  not 
think  it  possible  that  we  can  have  a  good  room 
tonight. 

I  shall  come  up  from  Cheltenham  in  the  night 
tomorrow,  and  shall  be  at  the  office  about  1  or  2.  Of 
course  you  won't  come  out,  or  think  of  coming  out, 
unless  and  until  you  are  quite  well. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


OFFICE  OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  11,  Wellington  Street  North, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Friday,  Twenty-eighth  October,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  read  the  letter  to  Evans 
(which  is  as  plain  as  a  pike  staff),  and  have  duly  given 
it  out  to  Johnson  to  be  posted  with  the  account. 

We  felt  the  bad  weather  at  Birmingham,  though 
the  people  did  really,  under  the  circumstances,  ' '  tumble 
up  "   extremely  well.     At  Cheltenham  yesterday  we 

d.e.  t 


274  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1859 

had  a  splendid  day  and  a  great  go.  My  share  after 
Arthur's  percentage  and  all  the  large  expenses,  was 
some  £70  for  the  day's  work.  We  came  up  by  the 
Mail  at  night — got  to  town  at  5 — and  even  I  feel  a 
little  tired  (though  really  not  much)  today. 

Oxford  came  out  brilliantly.  Princes  of  Wales  and 
the  like  attended. 

I  go  down  to  Gad's  Hill  early  tomorrow  morning, 
as  it  is  Katie's  birthday.  I  am  not  quite  sure  whether 
I  may  or  may  not  propose  to  defer  our  making-up  till 
Wednesday.  It  depends  on  how  long  the  Forsters 
stay  with  us.  I  will  write  you  again  from  Gad's  Hill, 
as  soon  as  I  know. 

Your  cold  could  scarcely  be  expected  to  be  better, 
under  such  trying  circumstances  of  weather.  Write 
me  a  line  tomorrow  night  to  Gad's  Hill,  and  tell  me 
how  you  are. 

I  didn't  tell  Arthur  the  Printing  joke,  because  I 
thought  it  better  to  keep  the  name  quite  close, 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY   EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Sunday,  Thirtieth  October,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  say  Decidedly  No  to  the 
Stephenson  paper — solely  on  the  ground,  as  to  Sidney, 
that  I  consider  it  will  be  behind  the  time  and  after  the 
Fair — as  between  you  and  me,  on  the  additional 
ground  that  the  thing  has  already  been  done  in  Once 
a  Week  (wretchedly)  and  quoted  in  The  Times — further, 
that  1  really  do  honestly  think  enough  has  been  said 
and  sung  on  the  subject.  Pay  well  for  the  article 
nevertheless.     Certainly  don't  use  it. 


1859]  DEATH   OF   FRANK   STONE.  275 

I  am  glad  to  hear  such  good  accounts  of  the  cough. 
I  will  come  up  on  Wednesday  by  the  Train  that 
arrives  at  London  Bridge  at  10  minutes  past  10.  If 
I  don't  find  you  at  the  office,  or  coming  to  the  office, 
I  will  come  on  to  your  house.  It  makes  not  the  least 
difference  to  me  where  we  make  up  the  No. 

All  here,  including  the  Forsters  and  Wilkie,  send 
kindest  regard  to  Mrs.  Wills  and  you. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


OFFICE    OF    ALL  THE    YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  11,  Wellington  Stkeet  North, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Saturday,  Nineteenth  November,  1859. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  don't  see  my  way  through 
this  letter  of  Lewis's  at  all. 

I  shall  be  back  here  at  3  today  to  meet  Alfred. 
Don't  wait  for  me  if  you  have  anything  else  to  do. 
If  you  have  nothing  else  to  do — why,  then  I  shall 
find  you. 

On  what  strange,  sad,  errand  do  you  think  I  am 
going  now  ?  To  Highgate,  to  choose  a  Grave  for — 
poor  Stone,*  who  died  yesterday  ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


•  Frank  Stone,  A.R.A,,  an  intimate  friend  of  Dickens,  and  father  of 
Mr.  Marcus  Stone,  R.A,  The  son  succeeded  "  Phiz  "  as  Dickens's  illustrator. 
He  drew  the  design  for  the  cover  of  "  Our  Mutual  Friend." 

t  2 


276  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1860 

1860. 

Dickens  began  "  The  Uncommercial  Traveller  "  in 
All  the  Year  Round  of  April  21st.  These  papers 
continued  to  appear  until  1869. 

''  Great  Expectations"  began  in  All  the  Year  Round 
of  December  1st. 

In  September  Dickens  finally  disposed  of  Tavistock 
House  to  a  Mr.  Davis,  a  Jewish  gentleman  (see  letter 
of  September  4th). 

On  November  1st  Dickens  and  Wilkie  Collins 
started  for  a  tour  in  Cornwall  and  Devon,  one  of 
their  objects  being  a  visit  to  Clovelly,  where  the 
scene  of  the  Christmas  story,  "  A  Message  from  the 
Sea,"  was  to  be  laid. 

Tavistock  House,  Tavistock  Square, 
London,  W.C, 
Wednesdaij,  Twenty -eighth  March,  1860. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — There   is   not  a  hope   of  my 
doing   the  "Uncommercial,"    in  time  for  Saturday's 
American   Mail.     When   I    got   home   last   night,  I 
found  a  note  from  the  lady  with  whom  my  mother 
lives,  who  is   terrified  by  the  responsibility   of  her 
charge  and  utterly  relinquishes  it.     Consequently  I 
must  at  once  devote  myself  to  the  difficult  task  of 
finding  good  hands  for  my  mother,  and  getting  her 
into  them  without  alarming  her,  and  how  this  is  to  be 
done,  and  done  at  once,  I  am  at  a  great  loss  to  settle. 
The  "  Uncommercial "  being  announced,  I  am  very 
unwilling  to  postpone  it  as  to  England.    Can  we  make 
up  the  No.  without  it,  for  America,  and  afterwards 
re-make  it  up,  with  it,  for  this  country  ?     I  will  come 
to  the  office  in  the  course  of  this  afternoon. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1860]  "WARIOUS  GAMMON."  277 

OFFICE    OF    ALL    THE    YEAB    ROUND, 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens, 

No.  11,  Wellington  Street  North, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Monday,  Twenty-third  April,  1860. 

My  Dear  "Wills  : — This  is  only  a  word,  to  say 
that  I  have  received  your  letter  here  today  and  that 
all  is  well  in  the  official  regions. 

When  I  came  to  make  up  the  No.  I  found  it 
impossible  to  get  in  the  ''Eye  Witness,"  *  and  was  forced 
to  substitute  "  Friends  on  all  Fours. "  t  ^  wish  you 
would  write  the  distinguished  E.  W.  a  line,  explaining 
that  it  was  driven  out  at  last  by  impossibility  of 
fitting,  and  that  it  is  in  the  following  No.  I  make  a 
rule  of  never  speaking  to  him  on  Editorial  topics. 

I  have  had  a  very  admirable  letter  from  Mrs.  Linton 
— which  shall  be  yours  when  you  come  back. 

The  newspaper  extracts  for  the  current  No.  I  duly 
made  out.  I  have  also  read  "Warious  Gammon" 
addressed  to  myself,  in  the  way  of  contributions,  and 
have  returned  the  same. 

It  is  cold  and  wretched  here,  and  hails  every  five 
minutes.  But  I  always  believe  Paris  to  be  one  of  the 
coldest— and  hottest — places  on  earth.  J 

They  are  carrying  the  P.  E.  interest  to  such  a 
preposterous  height,  that  I  begin  to  doubt  the  pro- 
priety of  inserting  "  Collars."  All  depends,  of  course, 
upon  the  treatment.  The  noble  C.  has  not  yet 
"entered  an  appearance  "  with  his  copy.  We  adopt 
that  legal  phraseology,  at  our  Sporting  Houses. 

•  Occasional  papers,  entitled  "Our  Eye  Witness  "at  this  or  the  oilier 
place  or  spectacle,  began  to  appear  in  the  first  volume  of  All  the  Year 
Rouml.  Charles  Collins  was  the  author.  He  was  then  engaged  to  be 
married  to  Uiokens's  younger  daughter. 

t  All  the  i't'di-  Hound,  Alay  't\\\. 

\   I  siip[iose  Wills  w.i«  in  I'liris. 


278  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1860 

With  kind  regard  to  Mrs.  Wills,  in  wliicli  all  at 
home  join. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY   EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Thursday  J  Twelfth  July,  1860. 

My  Dear  Wills: — My  active  and  intelligent  mind 
has  reverted  twice  or  thrice  to  the  close  of  that  Spirit- 
article  of  Mrs.  Linton's,  and  is  not  quite  easy  about  it. 
If  you  will  look  back  to  the  last  paragraph  of  the 
paper,  you  will  find  it  said  that  after  deduction  for 
imposition,  lies,  and  so  forth,  there  remains  a  "  large 
residuum  "  of  something  to  be  accounted  for.  I  think 
this  wants  qualifying.  At  all  events  I  would  take  out 
"  large,"  and  let  her  know  it. 

In  haste. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

26,  Wellington  Street,  W.C. 
OFFICE    OF    ALL    THE    YEAR    ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 
Late 
No.  11,  Wellington  Street  North, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Tuesday,  Fourth  September,  1860. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Your  description  of  your  sea- 
castle"^'  makes  your  room  here  look  uncommonly  dusty. 
Likewise  the  Costermongers  in  the  street  outside,  and 
the  one  Customer  (drunk  with  his  head  on  the  table) 
in  the  Crown  Coffee  House  over  the  way  in  York 

*  V/ills  was  away— at  Llandudno,  I  think. 


1860]  A   GRIM   HOUSE.  279 

Street,  have  an  earthy  and,  as  I  may  say,  a  Land- 
lubberly  aspect.  Cape  Horn  to  the  best  of  my  belief 
is  a  tremendous  way  off  ;  and  there  are  more  bricks 
and  cabbage  leaves  between  this  office  and  that  dismal 
point  of  land  than  tjou  can  possibly  imagine. 

Some  demon  sprite  will  somehow  have  informed  you 

before  I  write  this  letter,  that  Mr. has  poisoned 

himself.  Frederick  Chapman  wrote  me  last  night 
that  he  had  done  it  "  in  his  father's  house."  A  gloomy 
professional  purchaser  of  Nos.,  with  a  dirty  face,  whom 
Johnson  presented  to  me  in  the  shop  today  as  "  this 
young  man  who  is  always  down  in  Whitefriars,"  at 
J  past  11  A.M.  of  this  day  offered  to  make  oath  "  wot 
he  dun  it  in  Cre-morne  in  a  bottle  o'  Soda  Water.  It 
wos  last  Sunday,  wot  he  knowed  Mr.  Simpson  well, 
and  he  dun  it  there."  I  cannot  say  which  account  is 
correct — probably  neither — but  the  wretched  creature 
is  doubtless  dead.  And  when  I  came  along  just  now 
from  Haverstock  Hill  the  house  looked  grim  and  dry, 
with  all  the  blinds  down,  brooding  in  a  hot,  dusty,  tear- 
less, frozen  kind  of  way,  at  the  unsympathetic  street. 
Nothing  having  appeared  in  the  papers,  I  suppose 
strong  influence  to  have  been  used  in  that  wise,  to 
keep  the  dismal  story  quiet.  Holdsworth  (in  a  cracked 
voice  and  with  a  great  deal  more  hair  on  his  head 
than  he  can  possibly  govern)  said  that  he,  the  deceased, 

"  had  been  laying  it  at  Miss 's  door  for  her  getting 

married."  God  knows  whether  any  blurred  vision  of 
that  most  undesirable  female  with  the  brass-headed 
eyes,  ever  crossed  his  drunken  mind.  Frederick 
C/hapman  seemed  to  think  it  an  extraordinarily 
unpolite  thing  that  he  hadn't  waited  over  tomorrow, 
"  when  he  knew  his  brother  was  going  to  be  married." 
And  that's  all  I  know  of  the  ghastly  story. 


280  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1860 

Coming  here  from  the  Station  this  morning,  I  met, 
coming  from  the  Execution  of  the  Walworth  Murderer, 
such  a  tide  of  ruffians  as  never  could  have  flowed  from 
any  point  but  the  Gallows.  Without  any  figure  of 
speech,  it  turned  one  white  and  sick  to  behold 
them. 

Tavistock  House  is  cleared  today,  and  possession 
delivered  up  to  the  new  tenant.  I  must  say  that 
in  all  things  the  purchaser  has  behaved  thoroughly 
well,  and  that  I  cannot  call  to  mind  any  occasion 
when  I  have  had  money-dealings  with  any  one  that 
have  been  so  satisfactory,  considerate,  and  trusting. 

I  am  ornamented  at  present  with  one  of  my  most 
intensely  preposterous  and  utterly  indescribable  colds. 
If  you  were  to  make  a  Voyage  from  Cape  Horn  to 
Wellington  Street,  you  would  scarcely  recognise  in 
the  bowed  form,  weeping  eyes,  rasped  nose,  and 
snivelling  wretch  whom  you  would  encounter  here,  the 
once  gay  and  sparkling  &c.,  &c. 

Everything  else  here  is  as  quiet  as  possible. 
Business  reports  you  receive  from  Holdsworth.  Wilkie 
looked  in  today,  going  to  Gloucestershire  for  a  week. 
The  office  is  full  of  discarded  cui'tains  and  coverings 
from  Tavistock  House,  which  Georgina  is  coming  up 
this  evening  to  select  from  and  banish.  Mary  is  in 
raptures  with  the  beauties  of  Dunkeld,  but  is  not  very 
well  in  health.  The  Admiral  (Sydney)*  goes  up  for 
his  examination  tomorrow.  If  he  fails  to  pass  with 
credit,  I  will  never  believe  in  anybody  again — so  in 
that  case  look  out  for  your  own  reputation  with  me. 

This  is  really  all  the  news  I  have — except  that  I 
am  lazy,  and  that  Wilkie  dines  here  next  Tuesday  in 

*  Sydney  Smith  Haklimnnd  Dickenf,  the  fifth  son.     lie  was  born  in  1847, 
entered  the  lloyal  Navy,  and  died  at  sea  in  1872. 


1860]  CHARLES  READE.  281 

order  that  we  may  have  a  talk  about  the  Christmas 
Number ! 

I  beg  to  send  my  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Wills,  and 
to  inquire  how  she  likes  wearing  a  hat,  which  of 
course  she  does.  I  also  want  to  know  from  her,  in 
confidence,  whether 

Crwllm  festidiniog  llynythll  y  wodd  ? 

Yesterday  I  burnt,  in  the  field  at  Gad's  Hill,  the 
accumulated  letters  and  papers  of  twenty  years.  They 
sent  up  a  smoke  like  the  Genie  when  he  got  out  of 
the  casket  on  the  sea- shore ;  and  as  it  was  an  exquisite 
day  when  I  began,  and  rained  very  heavily  when  I 
finished,  I  suspect  my  correspondence  of  having  over- 
cast the  face  of  the  Heavens. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Kind  regard  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Novelli. 

I  have  just  sent  out  for  the  Globe.     No  news. 

Wednesday,  Twenty -sixth  Septemhei',  1860. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many  thanks  for  your  news  of 
Mary,  received  here  this  morning.  (I  mean  that 
illegible  proper  name  for  Mary.) 

I  have  both  heard  from  Eeade*  and  seen  him. 
There  is  only  one  obstacle,  and  that  is  a  treaty  he  has 
with  Ticknor  and  Fields.  It  is  possible  the  obstacle 
may  be  overcome.  We  must  have  a  talk  about  it.  I 
have  engaged  him  to  dine  here  on  Saturday  in  next 
week  at  6.  Will  you  book  it  ?  I  write  by  this  post 
to  Wilkie,  in  order  that  notice  of  the  Feast  may  reach 
him  on  his  coming  to  town. 

*  Charles  Reade.  I  think  this  is  an  allusion  to  a  suggestion  that  Reade 
should  write  a  novel  for  All  the  Yea?'  Bound  or  join  the  staff.  It  was 
revived  later  (see  letter  of  January  5th,  18G2,  /'ost). 


282  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOE.  [18G0 

The  Times  of  this  morning  having  a  mention  of 
Ingram's  death  in  the  leader,  I  suppose  there  is  little 
or  no  doubt  of  the  fact. 

The  ISio.  is  made  up,  and  the  "  Uncommercial"  is  in, 
and  all  is  right.  Will  you  mention  to  Mrs.  Wills 
with  my  kind  regard,  that  I  ought  to  have  been  bom 
at  Peebles,*  but  (owing  to  the  constitutional  perversity 
of  my  mother)  was  not  ? 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


LiSKEAKD, 

Saturday,  Third  November ,  1860. 

My  Dear  Wills  :  — We  have  had  two  days  posting 
from  Bideford  here,  and  have  arrived  (at  a  quarter 
past  3)  about  half  an  hour  before  the  going  out  of  the 
Post.  I  have  not  written  sooner,  because  of  our 
having  been  in  inaccessible  places.  We  have  now 
struck  the  Eailway,  and,  making  a  little  posting 
expedition  from  here  tomorrow,  will  be  safe  in  town, 
I  hope,  on  Monday  evening. 

We  have  got  everything  we  want,  I  think,  and 
have  arranged  and  parcelled  out  the  Xmas  No.  t 

On  Tuesday  we  will  make  up  as  usual. 

So  no  more  at  present  from 

Yours  ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Wilkie  sends  kind  regard. 


*  Mrs.  Wills,  like  her  brothers,  William  aiiJ  Robert  Ch.ibmcrs,  was  born 
at  Peebles. 

t  "  A  Message  from  Tlie  Sea." 


1861J  A   BEGGING   LETTER.  288 

1861. 

Dickens's  second  series  of  public  readings  occupied 
most  of  his  time  and  attention  this  year.  He  read  in 
London,  at  St.  James's  Hall,  during  the  season,  took 
a  short  summer  holiday  at  Gad's  Hill,  and  read  in 
the  provinces  and  Scotland  in  the  autumn,  the  tour 
being  prematurely  interrupted  owing  to  the  death  of 
the  Prince  Consort. 


3,  Hanover  Terrace, 

Monday,  Eleventh  March,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  had  a  begging  letter 
from  that  Eobert  Barrow — a  very  bad  one  by  the 
way — with  an  awful  affectation  of  Christian  piety  in 
it — a  pretence  of  having  known  me  and  offended  me, 
which  is  altogether  a  Lie — and  the  usual  blaring 
assumption  (of  which  I  shall  die  at  last)  that  I  am 
immensely  rich. 

If  you  would  not  object  to  see  him,  I  shall  be  very 
much  obliged  to  you  if  you  will  do  so  once  more,  at 
that  same  wretched  lodging  hard  by  Holborn.  He 
seems  to  have  no  idea  of  my  having  already  relieved 
him.  I  wish  you  would  tell  him  that  you  have  already 
given  him  £2  and  that  you  have  <£3  more  in  hand ; 
but  that  you  must  impress  upon  him  in  the  strongest 
manner  that  he  has  no  hope  in  making  any  further 
appeal  to  me — that  it  is  quite  impossible  and  monstrous 
— that  I  am  quite  weighed  down  and  loaded  and 
chained  in  life,  by  the  enormous  drags  upon  me  which 
are  already  added  to  the  charges  of  my  own  large 
family — and  that  he  must  not  deceive  himself  with 
the  notion  of  my  assisting  him  further.     It  is  very 


284  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

important  indeed  that  he  should  be  got  to  under- 
stand this,  quite  apart  from  the  question  of  his  own 
necessities. 

I  declare  to  you  that  what  with  my  mother — and 
Alfred's  family — and  my  wife — and  a  Saunders  or  so 
— I  seem  to  stop  sometimes  like  a  steamer  in  a  storm, 
and  deliberate  whether  I  shall  go  on  whirling,  or 
go  down. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Lord  Warden,  Dover, 

Sunday,  Tiventy-sixth  May,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many  thanks  for  your  report 
of  Wilkie,  which  amused  and  interested  me  very 
much.  His  quality  of  taking  pains,  united  to  natural 
quickness,  will  always  get  him  on.  He  was  delighted 
with  the  success,  and  wrote  to  me  that  night  before 
going  to  bed. 

I  hope  I  am  really  and  permanently  better.  I  work 
here,  like  a  Steam  Engine,  and  walk  like  Captain 
Barclay.* 

Enclosed,  a  letter  forwarded  here  this  morning. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KoCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Saturday,  Thirty-first  August,  18G1. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  received  your  letter  this 
morning,  and — not  to  lose  a  post — write  to  you  before 

*  Rolx;rt  Barclay-AUardice  (1779 — 1854)  was  famed  for  his  powers  as  a 
pedestrian.  His  greatest  feat  took  place  in  1809,  wlien  lie  walked  1,000 
miles  in  1,000  consecutive  hours  at  Newmarket.  Chambers's  Encyclopedia 
says  of  him  that  he  "devoted  himself  to  agriculture,  cattle-breeding,  and 
the  claiming  of  earldoms." 


1861]  ALL    THE   YEAR  ROUND.  285 

going  to  Sheerness  for  the  day  with  Miss  Boyle, 
Charley  Collins,  Marcus  Stone,  and  the  rest  of  them. 
You  will,  doubtless,  hear  from  Holdsworth  the 
Brilliant  that  the  Sale  keeps  up  well,  and  that  Bulwer 
seems  so  far  to  succeed  capitally.  In  the  making-up, 
I  find  Morley  very  helpful  indeed — always  there  early 
on  the  Wednesdays,  always  ready  with  his  proofs  and 
scheme,  and  always  prepared  for  any  kind  of  altera- 
tions on  my  part.  The  two  Nos.  we  have  made  up 
since  you  left  are  very  good  indeed.  In  last  Wednes- 
day's make-up,  is  a  paper  which  I  have  called  "  Four 
Stories,"*  by  Gleig's  fair  friend.  They  are  Ghost 
Stories.  The  first  (by  far  the  best)  is  a  remarkably 
good  and  original  one.  I  nearly  rewrote  them  all. 
In  the  same  making-up,  we  had  the  "  Cinque  Ports." 
But  I  was  so  disgusted  by  the  preposterous  homage 
to  the  Palmerston  nonsense  in  The  Times^  and  with  the 
base  flunlteyship  of  Punch,  that  I  told  Morley  to  take 
the  article  out  again  and  for  ever  cancel  the  same. 
The  Solicitor  employed  by  the  Minister  for  Saxony 
in  that  suspected  Murder  case,  has  written  me  a  very 
intelligent  letter,  to  say  that  it  was  an  exceedingly 
curious  case  of  circumstantial  evidence,  where  there 
was  always  a  destructive  and  more  or  less  quashing 
circumstance  to  oppose  to  the  suspicious  circumstance ; 
and  that  he  believes  he  could  write  an  interesting 
picture  narrative  of  it.  I  have  replied  that  with 
fictitious  names,  and  with  no  assumption  of  the 
prisoner's  innocence,  and  no  championing  of  either 
side,  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  it.  Sala  has  offered  a 
heap  of  rubbish  by  some  brother  of  his  at  Southampton, 
which  I  have  declined.  Spicer  writes  to  know  whether 
his    "  Polly "   is  Burked  or  is  to  appear  ?     I  have 

*  All  the  Year  Round,  September  14th. 


286  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

replied,  Is  to  appear  'twixt  this  and  Christmas.  He 
also  mentions  (his  letter  is  addressed  to  you)  that  he 
has  not  been  paid  for  ''  The  First  of  April."*  I  have 
paid  him  therefore.  All  else  goes  on  regularly  and 
well — perfectly  well. 

From  Frederick  Chapman  concerning  "  Great 
Expectations,"  I  have  a  note  this  very  morning. 
There  are  only  90  copies  left  of  the  Third  Edition, 
and  we  are  going  to  Press  with  the  Fourth. 

I  work  every  day  for  two  or  three  hours  on  my 
Headings .  Have  a  very  considerable  hope  that 
"Copperfield"  will  do  a  great  deal  in  London.  Am 
hopeful  of  seeing  Arthur  [Smith]  soon ;  who  has 
been  ill  at  Worthing,  but  is  better.  Charley  f  has 
been  here,  and  is  going  to  start  in  business  for  him- 
self on  the  First  of  October.  He  stayed  here  a  week, 
and  looked  very  much  the  better  for  it.  Cricket 
came  off,  and  the  ''  Governor  "  your  present  corre- 
spondent got  a  hit  high  over  the  apple  tree,  for 
which  he  scored  three,  and  which  covered  him  with 
glory.  C.H.O.E.L.E.Y.  X  was  here  before  starting 
for  Spain,  and  walked — with  me  at  my  pace — two 
and  twenty  miles,  without  appearing  in  the  least  the 
worse  for  it.  At  which  I  stood  amazed,  and  have 
ever  since  remained  in  that  attitude. 

The  weather  here  is  perfect,  the  beauty  of  the 
country  marvellous,  and  the  harvest  abundant.  My 
old  enemy,  that  infernal  bushel  of  wheat,  will  have 
a  great  deal  to  say  for  himself  in  the  Money  Market 
shortly,  I  suppose. 


*  All  the  Year  Bound,  March  30th,  where  the  title  is  "  A  Very  Likely 
story." 

t  His  eldest  son. 

j  Henry  Fothergill  Chorley,  musical  critic  of  the  Afhfivfeum,  writer  of 
novels  and  libretti  for  operas. 


1861]  THE  HOTEL  "JIBBONE."  287 

I  stick  to  my  prediction  that  the  people  of  the 
North  (in  America)  will  neither  raise  the  money  nor 
the  men  required  by  the  Government ;  and  that  an 
ignoble  and  contemptible  compromise  will  be  made  soon. 

I  wish  you  were  in  some  hostelry,  with  more  comfort 
about  you.  My  belief  in  the  efficacy  of  comfort  is 
very  great.  I  am  rather  disappointed  that  you  didn't 
go  to  Chamounix  from  Geneva,  and  come  down  to 
Martigny,  and  then  go  to  the  great  St.  Bernard,  and 
then  over  one  of  the  great  Passes.  But  I  know  that 
"  Our  Bore  "  always  found  the  places  his  friends  had 
omitted  to  visit,  to  be  the  best  places  in  the  Universe. 

You  don't  mention  how  many  ancient  cripples  are 

in  Miss  Coutts's  party.     I  can  imagine and  Co. 

toddling  sinuously  up  and  down  the  ten  thousand 
stairs  of  the  Gibbon — which  the  natives  pronounce 
Jibbone — and  corkscrewing  themselves  down  the 
stony-hearted  ways  to  the  Lake. 

Frank  *  shall  have  your  remembrance  when  he 
comes  home  to-night.  His  holiday  dates  from  Monday 
next  I  believe. 

This  is  all  my  news,  and  little  enough.  Mary, 
Katie,  Georgina,  and  all,  unite  with  me  in  kind  regard 
to  Mrs.  Wills  and  to  you. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Faithfully  yours, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTEK,  KeNT, 

Fridaij,  Twenty-fifth  October,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Bulwer,  in  a  note  I  meant  to 
have  enclosed  herein  but  have  inadvertently  destroyed, 

•  Francis  Jeffrey  Dickens,  his  third  son. 


288  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

asks,  "  Would  it  be  very  inconvenient  to  set  up  and 
print  off  the  whole  of  '  Strange  Story '  *  from  No.  20 
to  the  End.  In  that  case  1  could  give  the  final  revises 
up  to  No.  19.  But  the  revise  of  No.  20  necessitates 
the  survey  of  all  the  numbers  that  have  gone  before." 
I  have  told  him  that  I  think  we  can  do  it — that  I 
write  to  you — and  that  you  will  stir  up  the  printer  and 
tell  him  about  and  when  he  may  expect.  He  writes 
from  Marine  Parade,  Yentnor. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Miss  Power  is  going  to  Alexandria,  and  no  doubt 
wants  all  the  money  she  has  earned,  or  can  earn. 

Was  she  paid  for  "  Things  I  Can't  Stand  "  ? 

And  was  she  paid  for  the  poem  now  in  type  ?  I 
forget  its  name. 

Will  you  let  her  have  a  cheque,  at  once,  for  anything 
we  may  owe  her.     She  is  here. 

Angel  Hotel,  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 

Wednesday,  Thirtieth  October,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  do  not  remember  accui'ately 
(though  I  have  a  general  impression)  what  was  done 
at  the  office  before,  concerning  John,  when  he  was 
away  with  me.  But  I  wish  whatever  was  done  before 
to  be  done  now.  His  salary  from  the  Eeadings  is 
paid  by  Headland. 

It  may  save  some  discomfort  hereafter  if  I  beg  you 
not  to  allow  my  old  servant  to  be  the  subject  of  any 
kind  of  officiousness  on  the  part  of  Holdsworth  or 
Johnson.     I  have  lately  observed  a  little  thing  or  two 

•  Lytton's  "A  Stranfjc  Story"  began  in  All  the  Yea?'  Round,  August  10th, 
1861,  and  ended  in  the  issue  of  March  8th,  1862. 


1861]  THE   READINGS.  289 

in  that  direction,  not  at  all  consistent  Avith  my  notion 
of  my  supremacy.  And  I  have  not  noticed  it,  because 
I  could  possibly  take  no  notice  of  it  but  one  final  and 
conclusive  one. 

We  opened  ill  at  Norwich.  (There  had  been  great 
mismanagement,  but  perhaps  poor  Arthur's  illness* 
may  have  had  to  do  with  it.)  We  had  not  a  good  hall, 
and  the  audience  were  heavy,  and  put  me  out  of  sorts. 
Last  night  was  brilliant,  and  I  think  "  Nickleby  "  tops 
all  the  readings  in  its  astounding  Go. 

We  are  full  here  for  tonight. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Third  November ,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Excellent  work  both  at  Ipswich 
and  Colchester.  I  start  again  tomorrow  morning  from 
here. 

It  is  "  Copperfield "  at  Brighton  on  Thursday 
evening.  Let  me  know  whether  I  am  to  expect  you. 
Dinner  hour,  4.  We  hear  of  a  great  Let  at  Hastings, 
but  know  nothing  yet  of  Brighton.  Probably  we  shall 
find  this  time,  as  poor  Arthur  and  I  did  last,  that  the 
first  reading  in  a  place  where  there  are  more  readings 
than  one,  is  invariably  the  poorest  Let. 

I  was  amused  by  a  letter  in  The  Times  yesterday 
(though  it  was  unnecessary  and  ill-natured)  about 
Bulwer.  When  I  looked  over  the  proceedings  in 
Fenwick's  first  examination  and  subsequent  release 
(which  were  very  wrong),  I  particularly  wrote  to  him : 

*  Arthur  Smith  died  early  in  this  mouth.     Dickens  had  had  a  la^t  inlur- 
vicw  with  him  on  September  28th. 

D.E.  U 


290  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

"  Whatever  you  do,  remember  that  under  the  English 
criminal  law,  nothing  can  be  done  without  the 
accused.  The  accused  must  be  present."  He  wrote 
back,  saying  that  he  quite  understood  that,  and  would 
not  forget  it. 

There  was  a  rush  at  Colchester,  in  which  John  was 
nearly  swept  into  space.  The  rest  were  obliged  to 
dive  at  him,  and  drag  him  out  of  the  crowd. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Lord  Warden  Hotel,  Dover, 

Wednesday,  Sixth  November ^  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  received  your  letter  here 
this  morning,  and  the  satisfactory  account,  but  not 
the  proof.  What  have  you  done  with  Kobert  Lytton's 
"  Dead  Pope  "  ?  There  can  be  no  doubt,  you  know, 
of  its  being  far  better  than  any  make- weight. 

The  Brighton  "  fixture  "  stands  thus  : 

Thursday  evening,       "  Copperfield." 

Friday  evening,  "  Nickleby  "  and  '*  Trial." 

Saturday  afternoon,     "  Copperfield." 

There  was  a  tremendous  storm  here  yesterday,  so 
that  all  that  side  of  this  house  which  fronted  the 
gale  had  to  be  emptied  of  guests.  The  sea  was 
prodigiously  high,  and  the  uproar  deafening. 
Between  4  and  5  in  the  afternoon,  the  wind  shifted 
to  the  north,  and  it  became  fine.  We  had  a  great 
squeeze  at  night,  and  tui*ned  away  money.  Koom 
small,  but  not  ill-constructed.  Audience,  most  capital 
—  faultless !  There  was  a  ditto  audience  at  Canterbury, 
where  they  took  "  Copperfield  "  most  delightfully. 

From  Hastings  we  have  a  telegram  that  they  have 


1861]  CONFUSION.  291 

sold  for  tonight  nearly  300  stalls  !    We  go  over  there, 
at  noou. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Queen's  Head,  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
Friday,  Twenty-second  November,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  horribly  afraid  that 
Headland  *  has  broken  down,  and  I  want  you  to  take 
the  trouble  to  go  round  to  St.  Martin's  Lane — see 
Johnson  the  Printer — and  ascertain  if  you  can,  how 
this  state  of  things  that  I  am  going  to  describe  has 
been  brought  about. 

Observe  first  of  all,  that  the  posting  bills,  shop- 
bills,  &c.,  sent  off  by  Johnson  for  this  place,  all  in  one 
parcel — and  (necessarily)  to  this  place,  were  for  days 
and  days  "lost."  At  last  they  were  found  to  have 
been  sent  by  Johnson  to  the  place  of  reading — the 
hall — instead  of  to  the  local  agent,  where  they  had 
been  lying  in  some  vault  or  other,  and  might 
have  lain  there  until  Doomsday.  This  had  previously 
occurred  at  some  other  place — I  forget  which — I  think 
Ipswich — but  it  is  not  material;  at  some  place, 
indubitably. 

When  I  come  here,  I  find,  to  my  astonishment  that 
I  am  announced  on  Saturday  to  read  "  Little  Dombey  " 
and  the  "Trial" — which  I  had  no  notion  of  doing, 
having  given  directions  to  Headland  to  put  up 
"  Coppertield "  for  Saturday :  well  knowing  that 
"  Copperfield  "  of  last  night  would  make  Saturday's — 
*'  Johnson's  mistake,"  he  says. 

I  begin  to  read  at  Edinburgh  on  Wednesday.     This 

*  His  manager  for  the  readings. 

u  2 


292  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

morning  comes  a  letter  from  the  agent  there,  with  the 
dismal  news  that  he  has  not  got  the  bills,  tickets,  and 
so  forth — in  a  parcel  from  Johnson  again — known  to 
have  been  sent  somewhere ! — and  that  whereas  all 
Edinburgh  ought  to  be  now  acquainted  with  every- 
thing that  is  going  to  be  done,  nothing  whatever  is 
knoAvn.  Conceive  this,  and  I  beginning  on  Wednesday  ! 
Moreover,  he  has  one  of  our  printed  cards  of  the 
Edinburgh  course  in  his  possession,  and  on  that  printed 
card  there  is  no  morning  reading  of  "  Little  Dombey  " — 
which  I  had  given  out  to  Headland  and  knew  would 
be  very  valuable.  Again  he  says, '  *  Johnson's  mistake. ' ' 
But  I  cannot  readily  make  out  how  Johnson  can  be 
always  making  mistakes  now  and  never  made  them 
before.  This  is  what  I  want  you  kindly  to  ascertain 
from  him. 

I  do  not  know  what  is  to  be  done.  It  is  too  plain 
that  the  business  is  most  awfully  mismanaged,  and  I 
cannot  see  my  way  to  putting  it  right.  I  am  so 
perfectly  helpless  in  the  matter  :  having  my  own  hard 
w^ork  in  it  to  do,  and  having  of  course  supposed  all 
these  things  to  be  done  already.  I  have  detached 
Berry  to  Edinburgh — he  is  off  directly — but  I  do  not 
believe  that  anything  he  can  do,  can  now  make  that 
place  what  it  ought  to  have  been.  I  have  instructed 
him  to  go  on  to  Glasgow,  and  put  everything  right 
there.  I  have  scarcely  a  doubt  that  everything  is  wrong. 

Here,  the  local  Agent  of  course  complains  that  he 
was  absolutely  powerless  when  he  ought  to  have  been 
busiest — that  when  Jenny  Lind  was  here,  and  he  was 
sending  her  circulars  out,  and  ought  to  have  been 
sending  mine  he  had  none  to  send,  had  no  notion 
what  I  was  going  to  do,  could  answer  no  enquiry. 
We  had  a  most  enthusiastic  audience  last  night  for 


18G1]  BERWICK-ON-TWEED.  293 

"  Coppei-field  " — but  in  numbers  they  were  about  half 
what  they  should  have  been  and  would  have  been. 

If  all  these  rooms  at  all  these  places  in  the  List  were 
not  taken,  I  would  not  go  on.  But  the  mischief  is, 
that  I  must  go  on. 

Bulwer's  proof  enclosed. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


King's  Arms  Hotel,  Berwick-on-Tweed, 

Sunday  J  Twenty-fourth  November^  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Just  a  line  to  say  that  I  received 
yours  here  this  morning,  and  thank  you  for  it.  We 
have  done  extremely  well  at  Newcastle,  and  made  a 
very  remarkable  impression  beyond  all  doubt.  Berry 
telegraphed  from  Edinburgh  that  he  had  got  the  bills 
and  was  issuing  them  in  all  proper  directions — after- 
wards from  Glasgow,  ditto,  ditto.  Gordon  wi'ites  from 
Edinburgh  that  he  "  thinks  no  harm  has  been  done." 
This  must  of  course  be  taken  with  a  qualification; 
but  he  had  been  to  Wood's,  and  seemed  to  have 
earnestly  looked  about  him.  Of  course  he  is  waiting 
for  me  as  a  comrade. 

This  is  a  dull  place  for  a  long  Sunday,  and  as  I 
have  no  book  (no,  not  one — I  forgot  to  buy  one  yester- 
day, through  going  to  look  at  the  Pitmen  as  they  came 
from  work),  I  think  I  shall  learn  your  account  of  the 
"  Octoroon."  Before  beginning  to  learn  it,  I  send 
you  on  the  other  side  my  list  for  the  Xmas  No.  as  well 
as  I  can  remember  it.* 

Will  you  write  to  the  enclosed  man  in  confidence, 
saying  that  I  am  away  in  Scotland  ? 

*  This  has  been  torn  off. 


294  CHAELES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

This  seems  a  most  extraordinary  place  to  read  in, 
and  one  would  think  it  contained  nobody  to  read  to ; 
but  I  believe  the  sale  of  tickets  is  quite  surprising, 
considering  the  town.  I  don't  know  the  details  yet, 
and  don't  want  to  know  them  ;  for  I  was  up  at  5,  and 
have  exerted  myself  very  much,  at  Newcastle.  I  mean, 
please  God,  to  do  the  same  in  Edinburgh — where  I 
begin  with  "  Copperfield,"  and  hope  to  make  a  great 
effect — in  the  beginning,  intellectually — in  the  end, 
pecuniarily. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

Waterloo  Hotel,  Edinburgh, 

Thursday,  Twenty-eighth  November,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  brief  report,  for  I  was  not 
well  in  the  night  and  am  out  of  sorts  today. 

We  had  in  the  hall  last  night  exactly  double 
what  we  had  on  the  first  night  last  time.  "  Copper- 
field,"  beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt,  a  wonderful 
success  here.  'J'he  impression  on  the  audience, 
without  precedent  in  the  reading  chronicles.  Four 
rounds  when  I  went  in — laughing  and  crying  and 
thundering  all  the  time — and  a  great  burst  of  cheering 
at  last.  They  lost  nothing — not  the  minutest  detail 
— and  I  almost  think  it  would  have  been  better  to  have 
done  "  Copperfield  "  every  night. 

I  do  not  return  the  proofs  of  the  No.  as  I  doubt 
my  ability  to  get  through  them  today.  I  will  try 
fresh  air  instead.  Bulwer's  proofs  enclosed,  are  (he 
says)  "  not  for  press,  but  for  final  revision — to  be  sent 
to  me  and  then  returned  for  press." 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1861]  BLAZES  OF  TRIUMPH.  295 

Waterloo  Hotel,  Edinburgh, 

Sunday^  First  December,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Blazes  of  triumph  !  Immense 
turn-away.  Cram  yesterday  morning  (almost  un- 
precedented in  the  morning),  and  general  Go  of 
Readings  really  indescribable. 

They  write  from  Glasgow  this  morning  for  "  more 
tickets." 

In  your  last,  when  you  write  of  Mrs.  Linton,  you 
say  nothing  of  the  book  on  the  American  Union  in 
Morley's  hands.  I  hope  and  trust  his  article  will  be 
ready  for  the  next  No.  made  up.  There  will  not  be 
the  least  objection  to  having  two  American  papers  in  it.* 

I  am  rather  tired.  For  I  read  twice  yesterday  and 
took  unusual  pains. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Carrick's  Royal  Hotel,  Glasgow, 

Tuesday,  Third  Decemhei',  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — From  a  paragraph,  a  letter,  and 
an  advertisement,  in  a  Scotsman  1  send  you  with 
this,  you  may  form  some  dim  guess  at  the  scene  we 
had  in  Edinburgh  last  night.  I  think  I  may  say  that 
I  never  saw  a  crowd  before. 

As  I  was  quietly  dressing,  I  heard  the  people  (when 
the  doors  were  opened)  come  in  with  a  most  unusual 
crash ;  and  I  was  very  much  struck  by  the  place's 
obviously  filling  to  the  throat  within  five  minutes. 
But  I  thought  no  more  of  it,  dressed  placidly,  and 

*  In  All  t/ie  Year  Round  of  December  21st  there  were  two  American 
papers  : — "  American  Disunion  "  and  "  An  English-American  Sea  Duel,"  the 
latter  being  an  account  of  the  fight  between  the  Shannon  and  the  Cliesapeake. 
The  former  was,  evidently,  by  Morlcy.  It  was  followed  up  by  another, 
entitled  "  The  Morrill  Tariff,"  in  the  next  issue. 


296  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

went  in  at  the  usual  time.  I  then  found  that  there 
was  a  tearing  mad  crowd  in  all  the  passages  and  in 
the  street,  and  that  they  were  forcing  a  great  turbid 
stream  of  people  into  the  already  crammed  hall.  The 
moment  I  appeared,  50  frantic  men  addressed  me  at 
once,  and  50  other  frantic  men  got  upon  ledges  and 
cornices,  and  tried  to  find  private  audiences  of  their 
own.  Meantime  the  crowd  outside  still  forced  the 
turbid  stream  in,  and  I  began  to  have  some  general 
idea  that  the  platform  would  be  driven  through  the 
wall  behind  it,  and  the  wall  into  the  street.  You 
know  that  your  Respected  Chief  has  a  spice  of  cool- 
ness in  him,  and  is  not  altogether  unaccustomed  to 
public  speaking.  Without  the  exercise  of  the  two 
qualities,  I  thinlc  we  should  all  have  been  there  now. 
But  when  the  uproarious  spirits  (who,  as  we  strongly 
suspect,  didn't  pay  at  all)  saw  that  it  was  quite 
impossible  to  disturb  me,  they  gave  in,  and  there  was 
a  dead  silence.  Then  I  told  them,  of  course  in  the 
best  way  I  could  think  of,  that  I  was  heartily  sorry, 
but  that  this  was  the  fault  of  their  own  townsman 
(it  was  decidedly  the  fault  of  Wood's  people,  with 
maybe  a  trifle  of  preliminary  assistance  from  Ilead- 
land) ;  that  I  would  do  anything  to  set  it  right ;  that 
I  would  at  once  adjourn  to  the  Music  Hall,  if  they 
thought  it  best ;  or  that  I  would  alter  my  arrangements 
and  come  back  and  read  to  all  Edinburgh  if  they 
would.  (Meantime  Gordon,  if  you  please,  is  softening 
the  crowd  outside,  and  dim  reverberations  of  his 
stentorian  roars  are  audible.)  At  this  there  is  great 
cheering,  and  they  cry,  "  Go  on,  Mr.  Dickens. 
Everybody  will  be  quiet  now."  Uproarious  spirit 
exclaims,  "  We  wont  be  quiet.  We  won't  let  the 
reading  be   hoard.      We're   ill-treated."      llespccted 


18G1]  A   SCENE   IN  EDINBURGH.  297 

Chief  says,  "There's  plenty  of  time,  and  you  may 
rely  upon  it  that  the  reading  is  in  no  danger  of 
being  heard  uatil  we  are  agreed."  ■  Thereupon  good- 
humouredly  shuts  up  book.  Laugh  turned  against 
uproarious  spirit,  and  uproarious  spirit  shouldered 
out.  Respected  Chief  prepares,  amidst  calm,  to  begin, 
when  gentleman  (with  full  dressed  lady  torn  to 
ribbons  on  his  arm)  cries  out  :  "Mr.  Dickens!  " — 
"  Sir." — '^  Couldn't  some  people,  at  all  events  ladies, 
be  accommodated  on  your  platform  ?  "  "  Most 
certainly."  Loud  cheering.  "  Which  way  can  they 
come  to  the  platform,  Mr.  Dickens  ?  "  ''  Round  here 
to  my  left."  In  a  minute  the  platform  was  crowded. 
Everybody  who  came  up,  laughed,  and  said  it  was 
nothing  when  I  told  them  in  a  low  voice  how  sorry  I 
was  ;  but  the  moment  they  were  there,  the  sides  began 
to  roar,  because  they  couldn't  see  !  At  least  half  the 
people  were  ladies,  and  I  then  proposed  to  them  to  sit 
down  or  lie  down.  Instantly  they  all  dropped  into 
recumbent  groups,  with  Respected  Chief  standing  up 
in  the  centre.  I  don't  know  what  it  looked  like 
most  —  a  battle  field  —  an  impossible  tableau  —  a 
gigantic  picnic.  There  was  one  very  pretty  girl  in 
full  dress  lying  down  on  her  side  all  night,  and  hold- 
ing on  to  one  leg  of  my  table.  So  I  read  "  Nickleby  " 
and  the  ''  Trial."  From  the  beginning  to  the  end  they 
didn't  lose  one  point,  and  they  ended  with  a  great 
bui'st  of  cheering. 

Very  glad  to  hear  that  Morley's  American  article 
is  done.  Rather  fagged  today,  but  not  very.  So  no 
more  at  present.  Ever  faithfull}^, 

C.  D. 

Will  you  reply  to  enclosed  letter. 

200  Stalls  let  here  for  tonight. 


298  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1861 

Careick's  Eoyal,  Glasgow, 

Friday  J  Sixth  December^  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills: — I  enclose  three  letters.  On 
two  I  have  endorsed  the  kind  of  reply  I  want  sent. 
The  third  is  in  your  way  and  speaks  for  itself. 

It  rained  last  night — and  came  on  at  6  o'clock  too 
— sheets  of  water.  Under  which  adverse  circum- 
stances you  will  he  concerned  to  hear  that  we  had 
only  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixteen  persons 
in  the  Hall,  and  that  the  night's  receipts  were  only 
one  hundred  and  eighty-six  pounds,  nine  shillings  ! !  I 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Waterloo  Hotel,  Edinburgh, 

Sunday,  Eighth  December,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Before  I  can  answer  or  consider 
Bulwer's  letter  that  you  enclosed  me  this  morning,  I 
must  have  proofs  of  the  rest  of  his  story.  Will  you 
send  them  on  to  me  when  ready  ? 

Glasgow  finished  nobly,  and  last  night  here  was 
signally  successful  and  positively  splendid. 

Mary  and  Georgina  arrived  punctual  to  the  minute, 
and  send  you  their  kindest  regard. 

Will  you  give  my  small  Admiral,  on  his  personal 
application,  one  Sovereign  ?  I  have  told  him  to  come 
to  you  for  that  recognition  of  his  meritorious  services. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Carlisle, 

Wednesday,  Eleventh  December,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — No  to  the  Poem.  There  is  no 
good   in  it  ;    it   is   conceited  and   morbid  ;    directly 


1861]  THE  CHRISTMAS  NUMBER.  299 

counter  to  the  spirit  of  the  Xmas  No.  The  man  who 
talks  of  himself  as  **  the  poet"  is  really  not  to  be 
endured  in  this  age — especially  when  he  isn't  one. 

I  don't  like  either.     Exactly  for  the  reason 

which  has  led  to  our  leaving  Xmas  alone  in  the  Xmas 
No.  we  should  avoid  it — if  we  can — in  the  regular 
No.  I  put  in  that  saving  clause,  because  you  mmj 
have  nothing  else  by  you.  But  I  don't  like  it,  and 
would  rather  have  something  else. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  make  less  of  Mr,  Spence's 
book  than  Morley  has  done.* 

Costello  very  amusing.  Lever  extremely  dangerous 
in  places.  I  have  taken  out  the  most  dangerous — 
and  really  unfair  —  bits.  Look  to  it  again  in  the 
Eevise. 

Carlisle  has  done  its  best,  and  crammed  its  room  (a 
sort  of  cellar,  and  very  mouldy)  twice.  One  would 
not  have  expected  it  in  this  place,  but  it  is  indis- 
putable that  they  took  *' Copperfield  "  last  night  as 
well  as  the  Edinburgh  people.  We  go  on  to  Lancaster 
at  1  today. 

Kindest  regard, 

Ever  faithfully. 

CD. 

The  Proofs  returned  separately. 

YiCTORiA  Hotel,  Preston, 

Friday  J  Thirteenth  December ,  1861. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  news  of  the  Xmas  No.f  is 
indeed  Glorious,  and  nothing   can  look  brighter  or 

•  Mr.  Spence's  book  on  the  American  Union  is  mentioned  in  the  last 
paragraph  of  the  article  entitled  "  American  Disunion,"  All  the  Year  Rautid, 
December  21st. 

f  "  Tom  Tiddler's  Ground,"  to  which  Dickens  contributed  the  first,  sixth 
and  seventh  chapters. 


300  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G1 

better  than  the  prospects  of   the  Illustrious  Publi- 
cation. 

Both  Carlisle  and  Lancaster  have  come  out 
admirably,  though  I  doubted  both,  as  you  did.  But, 
unlike  you,  I  always  doubted  this  place.  I  do  so  still. 
We  have  a  hundred  stalls  let,  but  it  is  a  poor  place  at 
the  best  (you  remember  ?)  and  the  Mills  are  working 
half-time,  and  trade  is  very  bad.  The  expenses  how- 
ever will  be  a  mere  nothing.  The  accounts  from 
Manchester  for  to-morrow,  and  from  Liverpool  for  the 
Readings  generally,  very  cheery  indeed. 

The  young  lady  who  sells  the  papers  at  the  Station 
is  just  the  same  as  ever.  Has  orders  for  tonight,  and 
is  coming,  "  with  a  person."  "  The  person  ?  "  said  I. 
"  Never  yoii  mind,"  said  she. 

I  was  so  charmed  with  Robert  Chambers's  ''  Tra- 
ditions of  Edinburgh  "  (which  I  read  in  Edinburgh), 
that  I  was  obliged  to  write  to  him  and  say  so. 

Kindest  regard  from  the  Ladies. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 

Sunday,  Fifteenth  December,  18G1. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  sent  you  a  Telegram  today, 
and  I  write  before  the  answer  has  come  to  hand. 

I  have  been  very  doubtful  what  to  do  here.  We 
have  a  great  Let  for  tomorrow  night.  The  Mayor 
recommends  closing  tomorrow,  and  going  on  on 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  ;  so  does  the  Town  Clerk ;  so 
do  the  Agents.  But  I  have  a  misgiving  that  they 
hardly  understand  what  the  public  general  sympathy 
with  the  Queen  will  be.*     Further,  I  feel  personally 

*  The  Piiiice  Consort  had  died  on  the  previous  day. 


1862]  THE  QUEEN.  301 

that  the  Queen  has  always  been  very  considerate  and 
gracious  to  me,  and  I  would  on  no  account  do  any- 
thing that  might  seem  unfeeling  or  disrespectful.  I 
shall  attach  great  weight,  in  this  state  of  indecision, 
to  your  Telegram. 

A  capital  audience  at  Preston.  Not  a  capacious 
room,  but  full.     Great  appreciation. 

The  scene  at  Manchester  last  night  was  really 
magnificent.  I  had  had  the  platform  carried  forward 
to  our  ''  Frozen  Deep  "  point,  and  my  table  and  screen 
built  in  with  a  Proscenium  and  room  Scenery.  When 
I  went  in  (there  was  a  very  fine  hall),  they  applauded 
in  the  most  tremendous  manner ;  and  the  extent  to 
which  they  were  taken  aback  and  taken  by  storm,  by 
"  Copperfield,"  was  really  a  thing  to  see.  It  was  a 
most  signal  and  remarkable  success. 

The  Post  closes  early  here  on  a  Sunday,  and  I  shall 
close  this  also,  without  further  reference  to  "  a  message 
from  the  " — W.  H.  W. — being  probably  on  the  road. 

Kadley  is  ill,  and  supposed  to  be  fast  declining,  poor 
fellow.  This  House  is  crammed.  The  assizes  on. 
And  Troops  perpetually  embarking  for  Canada,  and 
their  officers  passing  through  the  Hotel. 

Kindest  regard. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

1862. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  Dickens  resumed  his 
interrupted  readings  and  continued  them  until  Feb- 
ruary, when  he  came  to  London.  From  March  until 
June  he  gave  a  series  of  readings  in  St.  James's  Hall. 

At  the  end  of  October  he  went  to  Paris,  taking 
with  him  his    sister-in-laW;  Miss  Hogarth,  and  his 


302  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

elder  daughter,  Mamie.  In  the  middle  of  JN^ovember 
Wills  joined  them  there  for  a  short  visit.  He  had 
been  charged  by  Miss  Coutts  to  carry  a  box  of  flowers 
to  the  Empress  Eugenie  at  Compifegne — Dickens  refers 
to  this  as  "your  Imperial  charge"  in  a  letter  of 
November  7th — and  in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Wills,  which  I 
printed  in  "Memories  of  Half  a  Century,"  he  gives  an 
account  of  how  he  accomplished  his  mission,  and  adds, 
"here  I  am  in  the  middle  of  the  Christmas  number, 
writing  this  between  whiles  as  Dick  goes  over  his 
proofs,"  My  father  and  mother  joined  the  Dickens 
party  in  Paris.  I  have  a  memento  of  their  visit  in 
the  shape  of  a  carte  of  the  "  Cafd  Voisin,"  on  which  are 
written  in  pencil  these  words,  "  19th  Nov.  1862. — In 
grateful  memory  of  a  wonderful  dinner  at  the  "  Caf^ 
Yoisin,"  from  [here  follow  the  signatures]  Nina 
Lehmann,  Charles  Dickens,  Georgina  Hogarth, 
Frederick  Lehmann,  W.  H.  Wills,  Mamie  Dickens." 
This  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Wills  in  London.  This  was,  no 
doubt,  the  "  Kestaurant  Dinner,"  for  which  Wills,  in 
the  letter  of  November  11th,  was  requested  to  "  bring 
treasure  "  with  him. 


[To  the  second  paragraph  of  this  letter  Wills  has 
appended  the  following  note  in  pencil: — "It  would 
gratify  me  to  see  this  passage  in  print.  The  whole  is 
worth  publishing,  I  think."] 

At  the  Bibmingham  Station, 

Thursday  J  Second  Januanj,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Being  stranded  here  for  an 
hour,  on  my  way  from  Leamington  to  Cheltenham,  I 
write  to  you. 

Firstly  to  reciprocate  all  your  cordial  and  affectionate 
wishes  for  the  New  Year,  and  to  express  my  earnest 
hope  that  we  may  go  on  through  many  years  to  come, 


1862]  CHARLES  EEADE.  303 

as  we  have  gone  on  through  many  years  that  are  gone. 
And  I  think  we  can  say  that  we  doubt  whether  any 
two  men  can  have  gone  on  more  happily  and  smoothly, 
or  with  greater  trust  and  confidence  in  one  another.* 

Secondly :  As  the  Proofs  reached  me  yesterday  at 
Leamington,  where  I  had  a  double  day,  I  was  not  able 
to  look  at  them.  I  have  eyed  them  on  the  Eailway 
today,  but  necessarily  in  a  cursory  way.  Look  to  the 
Eussian  paper  for  clearness.  In  Robert  Lytton's  poem 
— at  the  end — the  word  "  both  "  is  used  as  applied  to 
several  things.  The  word  "  all,"  with  a  slight  altera- 
tion in  the  pointing,  will  express  what  he  means. 

Keep  articles  which  will  have  the  first  person 
singular,  inveterately,  as  wide  asunder  as  you  can. 

Birmingham  is  in  a  very  depressed  state,  with  very 
few  of  its  trades  at  work.  Nevertheless  we  did 
extremely  well  here.  At  Leamington  yesterday, 
immense.  "  Copperfield  "  in  the  morning  absolutely 
stunned  the  people :  and  at  "Nickleby"  and  the 
"  Trial "  at  night,  they  roared  and  roared  until  I  think 
they  must  have  shaken  all  the  air  in  Warwickshire. 

Faithfully  ever, 

CD. 

Royal  Hotel,  Plymouth, 

Sunday,  Fifth  January,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  couldn't  answer  your  letter 
about  Reade  f  until  I  had  it.     Could  I  now  ? 

He  seems  to  me,  to  be  the  best  man  to  be  got  for 
our  purpose.     But  I  think  his  terms  will  be  rather 

*  The  first  two  paragraphs  of  this  letter  are  printed  in  "  Letters,"  II.,  171 ; 
but  the  rest  of  the  letter  there  printed  is  made  up  of  a  letter  dated  April  5th 
of  this  year  (see  post). 

t  This  refers,  I  think,  to  the  suggestion  that  Charles  Reade  should  join 
the  stall  of  All  tfie  Year  Round.  His  novel,  "  Very  Hard  Cash,"  began  to 
appear  ia  the  issue  of  March  28th  of  the  following  year. 


304  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

higher  than  yours.  Seeing  that  we  shall  not  be  pay- 
ing Wilkie's  salary  then,  I  think  you  might  at  once 
(if  you  saw  it  to  be  necessary)  go  up  to  five  and 
twenty  pounds  a  week.  But  he  may  not  be  used  to 
such  receipts  as  I  suppose.  I  would  decidedly  pursue 
the  idea,  with  the  intention  of  getting  him,  as  the  best 
man  to  be  got.  No  doubt  he  would  be  glad  to  work 
with  me.     I  believe  he  has  a  respect  for  me. 

I  shall  be  here  until  after  post  time  on  Wednesday 
morning,  and  at  Torquay  until  after  post  time  on 
Friday  morning.  Any  word  from  you  concerning 
Reade,  by  letter  or  telegram,  shall  be  answered 
immediately. 

(His  singing,  I  know.     Very  innocent  and  harmless.) 

Your  heavy  debt  here  shall  be  paid  in  full.  I  doubt 
the  judiciousness  of  Frank's  taking  a  ticket  for  a 
month,  because,  unless  I  am  mistaken,  he  will  be  a 
week  of  the  time  in  London.  But  I  suppose  three 
weeks'  single  tickets  might  have  cost  him  as  much  too. 
I  ought  to  have  written  to  him  about  it.  Will  you 
tell  him  with  my  love,  that  I  have  been  too  busy. 

Macready's  amazement  at  "  Copper  field"  really  was 
something  to  see.  He  told  me,  with  the  tears  running 
down  his  face,  that  "  as  a  piece  of  art  it — er — laid  him 
on  his — er — back ;  and  that  as  a  piece  of  passion  and 
pathos  and  playfulness,  it — er — well  ! — there  was 
nothing  to  be  said  about  it.  N — no,  Dickens, 
Nothing  I  "  Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Torquay, 

IVednesdcnj,  Eighth  January^  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — First,  as  to  the  No.  I  return 
all  the  proofs  in  which  I  have  made  marks — pencil 


1862]  A  BET.  305 

marks,  because  done  on  the  Railway.  There  is  only  one 
in  Murray's  (poor)  and  all  the  rest  are  in  the  American 
story.  I  conclude  "  John  Ray  "  to  be  out,  as  I  see  so 
much  matter  over.  I  hope  he  is  out,  because  he  is 
the  dreariest  of  the  dreary. 

Your  account  of  the  wretched  business  (which  I 
have  sent  to  Forster)  made  me  roar  with  laughter  at 
Plymouth  this  morning  and  then  inspired  me  with  a 
sort  of  pity — though  the  fellow  is  as  poor  and  mean  a 
Hound  as  lives. 

I  think  you  remember  that  I  did  not  approve  of 
your  townsmen  when  I  was  last  there  ?  *  We  had 
one  good  night,  and  one  bad  one.  The  bad  one  was 
last  night.  But  I  perfectly  bowled  them  over  and 
over  and  over  too : — it  was  "  Copperfield."  Plymouth 
is  a  bad  place  for  any  such  purpose,  with  a  room  I 
hate,  in  a  perfectly  inaccessible  position. 

Good  Lets  here,  but  a  very  small  room.  The  room 
at  Exeter  also,  is  small. 

Delighted  to  find  that  we  start  fair  with  All  the 
Year  Bound  again. 

Reade,  good.  I  would  give  him  what  he  asks, 
holding  him  to  a  certain  space  within  which  the  story 
shall  be  comprised.  Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

OFFICE  OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  BOUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  11,  Wellington  Stkeet  North, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Wednesday,  Twenty-second  January,  1862. 

Dick  bets  Stanny  that  "Masaniello"  was  produced,  as 
AN  OPERA,  at  Drury  Lane  Theatre  thirty  years  ago ; 

*  Plymouth. 
D.E.  X 


306  CHAKLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

reference  is  supposed  to  be  had  to  the  date  of  the  year, 
without  reference  to  months. 

The  bet  is,  a  dinner  for  four  at  Greenwich,  Eich- 
mond,  or  elsewhere,  for  the  party  present,  that  is  to 
say: 

Stanfield. 
Dickens. 
Wilkie  Collins. 
Wills. 
Witnesses  : 

Wilkie  Collins.  C.  Stanfield. 

W.  H.  Wills.  Charles  Dickens. 

[Wills  has  added  in  pencil,  "  I  think  C.  D.  lost,  for 
'  Masaniello  '  was  produced  as  a  ballet. ^^1 


Radley's  Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 

Wednesday,  Twenty-ninth  January,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  gone  over  the  Proofs. 
In  the  1st  Vol.  of  Household  Wordsy  Morley  did  a  paper 
(from  my  books  and  suggestions),  or  two  papers,  con- 
cerning Pirates.  As  I  see  in  Spicer's  article,  several 
cases  that  I  know  to  be  in  the  same  books,  just  glance 
back  at  Morley  and  see  that  there  is  no  repetition. 

The  longer  Charley  Collins's  paper  is,  if  it  be  really 
good,  the  better.  I  was  going  to  telegraph  to  you  by 
all  means  to  keep  the  No.  open  for  it,  if  I  had  not  had 
the  information  contained  in  your  note  of  this  morning. 
It  would  be  quite  thrown  away  and  lost,  if  it  were 
delayed. 

I  think  you  had  best  pay  B.  and  E's  cheque  at 
once  to  my  account  at  Coutts's. 

I   come   up  from  Chester  in  the  night  tomori'ow. 


1862]  "NO  NAME."  307 

Another  tremendous  cram  here  last  night ;  and  every- 
thing let,  out  and  out,  for  tonight. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 

Tuesday,   Twenty-eighth  January,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  12th  of  February  will  suit 
me  perfectly. 

A  tremendous  cram  here  last  night,  and  a  great 
turn-away. 

My  suggestions  to  Wilkie  *  as  to  altering  what  he 
has  done,  were  very  slight  indeed ;  because  he  cannot 
alter  it  in  any  essential  particular.  They  went  mainly 
to  the  warning  that  it  must  inevitably  come  to  pass 
that  the  more  severely  and  persistently  he  tells  the 
story,  unrelieved  by  whimsical  playing  about  it,  the 
more  he  will  detract  from  the  steadiness  and  inflexi- 
bility of  purpose  in  the  girl.  Contrast  in  that  wise  is 
most  essential.  She  cannot  possibly  be  brought  out 
as  he  wants  to  bring  her  out,  without  it. 

"  Under  a  Cloud  "  was  one  of  my  names  on  my  list, 
but  I  did  not  send  it  to  Wilkie  because  it  has  a  semi- 
slang-acceptation  that  is  dead  against  it  and  makes  it 
small.  Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

16,  Hyde  Park  Gate,  South, 
Kensington  Gore,  W., 

Saturday,  Fifth  Apnl,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  little  packet  will  come  to  you 
to-day  from  Hunt  and  Koskell's  :  almost  at  the  same 
time,  I  think,  as  this  note. 

*  Wilkie  Collins'a  novel,    "No  Name,"  began  in  All  the   Year  Bound, 
March  15th,  this  ^ear. 

X  2 


308  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1862 

The  packet  will  contain  a  Claret  Jug.*  I  hope  it 
is  a  pretty  thing  in  itself  for  your  table,  and  I  know 
that  you  and  Mrs.  Wills  will  like  it  none  the  worse 
because  it  comes  from  me. 

It  is  not  made  of  a  perishable  material,  and  is  so 
far  expressive  of  our  friendship.  I  have  had  your 
name  and  mine  set  upon  it,  in  token  of  our  many  years 
of  mutual  reliance  and  trustfulness.  It  will  never 
be  so  full  of  wine,  as  it  is  to-day  of  affectionate 
regard."!* 

Ever  faithfully  yours, 
Charles  Dickens. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY   EoCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Sunday,  Fourteenth  September,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  received  yours  from  the 
shores  of  Lethe,  and  expect  you  to  come  back  in  the 
fat  and  rank  condition  of  the  Weed  that  rots  upon 
the  Wharf  there. 

It  will  be  a  convenience  to  me  to  make  up  2  Nos. 
on  Thursday  (subject,  of  course,  to  any  substitution 
in  the  second,  of  a  better  or  more  appropriate  paper,  if 
any  should  come  in),  and  towards  this  end,  I  shall 
appear  with  a  host  of  proofs. 

TroUope's  story  is  exceedingly  good ;  highly 
picturesque  and  full  of  interest.  But  he  mars  the 
end  by  over-anticipating  it,  and  I  have  changed  it 
there,  a  good  deal. 

I  think  Lever  will  be  fair : — at  any  rate  I  will  take 

•  This  claret  jug,  fashioned  in  silver  after  the  model  of  an  Etruscan  jug, 
is  now  in  my  possession,  having  been  bequeathed  to  me  by  Mrs.  Wills. 

f  This  letter  is  printed  in  "  liCtters,"  IL,  171  ;  but  it  is  there  given  as 
forming  part  of  a  letter  dated  January  2nd  of  this  year  (see  aiite). 


1862]  "SOMEBODY'S  LUGGAGE."  309 

good  care  that  he  is  not  foul.     Have  ready  for  me,  all 
that  is  come  of  his  narrative. 

You  will  be  perhaps  a  little  surprised  (and  not  dis- 
agreeably) to  learn  that  I  have  done  the  opening  and 
end  of  the  Xmas  No.  (!)  *  and  that  I  mean  soon  to  be 
at  work  on  a  pretty  story  for  it.  I  think  what  I  have 
done  is  exceedingly  droll,  and  new.  Circular  letter  to 
contributors,  for  said  No.  enclosed. 

After  the  astounding  and  brilliant  intelligence  of 
''  Somebody's  Luggage  "  being  already  on  and  off  the 
anvil,  I  leave  you  to  take  breath — if  you  can,  in  your 
(necessarily)  breathless  admiration  of 

Yours, 

Ever  Illustriously, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Wednesdmj  Night,  Fifteenth  October,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  to  be  at  Boulogne  on 
Sunday  to  meet  Mary  and  Georgina,  and  I  hope  to 
post  you  from  thence  my  corrections  in  the  proofs  for 
next  Wednesday's  make-up. 

Wilkie  has  been  thrown  into  a  state  of  inexpressible 
enthusiasm  by  "  His  Boots."  "j*  He  is  rather  knocked 
up  by  the  bye.  Don't  seem  to  know  it,  for  he  is  nervous. 
I  have  told  him  to  have  no  fear  of  failure,  for  if  he 
should  break  down,  I  would  go  on  with  his  story  so 
that  nobody  should  be  any  the  wiser  ! 

Poole's  receipt  enclosed. 

What  on  earth  can  you  be  going  to  Skibbereen  for  ? 

*  "  Somebody's  Luggage."  Dickens  wrote  for  it  four  chapters  and  a  portion 
of  another, 
f  One  of  Dickens's  chapters  in  "  Somcbotly's  Luggage." 


310  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G2 

I  am  glad  you  put  in  Morley's  waste-article.  *  I 
thought  it  very  good.  Is  he  getting  on  with  the 
Laboratory  one  ?  f  It  would  be  well-timed  soon  after 
this  poisoning  case. 

Faithfully  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Hazebroucke,  France, 

Friday,  Seventeenth  October,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Without  waiting  until  I  get  to 
Boulogne,  I  make  up  my  parcel  of  corrections  here  en 
route,  and  will  post  it  somewhere  or  other,  when  I  have 
got  the  last  proofs  in. 

I  find  "  Princely  Travel  in  America  "  and  ''  An  Old 
Country  Town"  among  my  proofs.  I  presume  you 
returned  them  to  me  in  mistake  ?  It  is  because  I  find 
them,  that  I  write  to  you  sooner  than  I  intended. 
They  are  enclosed. 

Both  the  enclosed  printer's  lists  are  wrong.  Each 
of  them  contains  an  article — "What's  the  use  of  that" 
— which  is  already  used.  If  the  list  be  not  kept 
correctly  while  I  am  away,  we  shall  get  into  great 
difficulty. 

It  is  absolutely  impossible  to  put  in  "  Our  Last 
Attempt "  \  until  Lever  has  corrected  the  proofs.  I 
have  spent  a  couple  of  hours  on  it,  but  there  is 
scarcely  one  single  name  accurately  printed.  And  I 
am  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  some  of  the  names 
to  know  even  what  is  meant.  It  must  positively 
stand  over  until  you  have  got  corrections  back  from 
Lever,  or  we  shall  be  ridiculous.     In  its  place,  insert 

•  I  tliink  this  is  "Victoria's  Ironsides"  (October  11th),  an  impeacliment 
of  the  waste  caused  by  our  dockyard  system, 
f  "  The  Modern  Alchemist,"  December  22nd. 
X  "  Our  Last  Attempt,"  in  All  th^  Year  Hound,  November  8th  and  15th. 


1862]  IN   PARIS.  311 

"  Only  One  Room  "  * — cut  down  from  my  corrected 
proof  (I  corrected  the  paper  some  time  ago)  to  the 
length  you  want. 

The  Poem  is  very  good.  I  can  see  nothing  at  all  in 
the  Persian  paper.  I  hope  its  successors  may  be 
better. 

As  I  have  leisure  for  adventure  before  meeting 
Mary  and  Georgina,  I  am  now  going  to  have  a  look  at 
Dunquerque — in  the  "Uncommercial"  f  interest.  And 
by  the  bye  I  must  say  that  I  find  the  French  fortified 
town  in  "  His  Boots  "  to  be  amazingly  accurate.  I 
have  been  lazily  checking  it  off  at  two  old  Vauban- 
defended  towns  since  I  came  over  yesterday. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Paris,  Rue  du  Faubourg  St.  Honors,  27, 

Friday,  Twenty-fourth  October,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — First  as  to  Miss  Parr's  story. 
It  is  very  pretty,  and  decidedly  accepted — but  whether 
for  the  Xmas  IS'o.  or  no,  I  cannot  yet  positively  say. 
Because  the  best  of  the  papers  that  come  in  must  be 
taken  for  that,  and  some  may  come  in  that  would  fit 
better  both  to  the  general  idea  and  the  demand  for 
variety  in  the  contents. 

I  don't  much  like  the  scheme  for  the  next  No.,  it 
looks  so  excessively  patch-worky.  But  I  will  go 
carefully  over  it  and  the  printer's  list,  in  good  time 
for  Wednesday. 

The  "  Foray  in  the  Ballad  Country,"  I  think  may  be 
distributed. 

*   November  29th. 

t  "  The  Unc<irumercial  Traveller  "  papers  which  Dickens  was  writing  in 
All  the  Year  Round. 


312  CHAELES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1862 

Pay  Miss  Power,  and  also  for  her  sister's  "At 
Home  at  Panama." 

I  find  the  enclosed  two  A.Y.R.  papers  among  my 
letters  brought  away  from  England.  I  have  nothing 
else. 

We  have  a  most  elegant  little  apartment  here ;  the 
lively  street  in  front,  and  a  splendid  courtyard  of  great 
private  hotels  behind,  between  us  and  the  Champs 
Elys^es.  I  have  never  seen  anything  in  Paris,  so 
pretty,  airy,  and  light.  But  house  rent  is  fearfully 
and  wonderfully  dear. 

High  upon  the  Boulevard,  the  old  group  of  Theatres 
that  used  to  be  so  characteristic  is  knocked  to  pieces, 
and  preparations  for  some  amazing  new  street  are  in 
rapid  progress.  I  couldn't  find  my  way  yesterday  to 
the  Poste  Eestante,  without  looking  at  a  Map ! — I 
suppose  I  have  been  there,  at  least  50  times  before. 
Wherever  I  turn,  I  see  some  astounding  new  work, 
doing  or  done.  When  you  come  over  here  for  the 
Xmas  No.  (as  I  think  you  must !)  you  shall  see 
sights. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Love  to  Frank.* 

Paris,  Kue  du  Faubourg  St.  Honors,  27, 

Tuesday,  Fourth  November,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  find  that  my  means  of 
suggesting  the  contents  of  the  next  No.f  are  extremely 
limited,  for  I  have  proofs  only  of  ''Windbags" — 
"  Under  the  Black  and  Yellow  "— "  The  Shamrock," 
and  some  of  the  "Persian  Papers." 

•  His  third  son. 

f  The  number  of  November  22ud. 


1862]  A  MAKE-UP.  313 

"  Windbags  "  may  go  in ;  but  call  it 

"  Critical  Bulls 
In  Historical  China-Shops." 

"  The  Shamrock  "  is  just  nothing  at  all,  and  really 
not  worth  inserting.  *'  Under  the  Black  and  Yellow  " 
will  just  do,  but  will  not  more  than  just  do,  because 
the  writer  always  does  the  same  thing  and  rides  some- 
where to  save  somebody.  When  it  goes  in,  observe 
(besides  looking  it  well  over  for  the  pointing)  that 
*'  vetturino "  in  the  fourth  paragraph,  ought  to  be 
"  vetturinz"  ;  and  that  "  Ingleseo  "  at  the  bottom  of 
the  same  slip,  ought  to  be  "Inglesi."  But  I  think 
that  for  this  No.  Sala's  "  Bleeding  Diamond  "  (out  of 
the  question  for  the  Xmas  No.)  may  be  better  than 
"  Under  the  Black  and  Yellow."     I  would  put  it  last. 

I  should  like  a  Natural  History  sort  of  article  in 
the  middle  of  the  No.  Unless  I  am  mistaken,  "  Down 
from  the  Clouds  "  has  not  yet  gone  in  ?  That  would 
do  very  well.  If  you  have  Morley's  Laboratory 
paper  in  connection  with  the  Poisoning  question,  by 
all  means  get  that  in,  and  don't  delay  it.  (I  wrote  to 
Morley  last  Wednesday,  telling  him  to  hold  over  the 
"  English  Convict's  Progress,"  because  I  have  never 
seen  the  paper,  and  it  is  a  subject  on  which  I  have 
written  strongly.) 

Therefore  you  have  in  hand 

**  No  Name." 

"Down  from  the  Clouds." 

"  Critical  Bulls  in  Historical  China-Shops." 

Perhaps  Morley's  article  on  the  Poison-Test 

Laboratory. 
"  Legend  of  the  Bleeding  Diamond." 
"  Persian  Papers." 


314  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

Taking  ''No  Name  "  for  the  beginning,  and  "The 
Legend  of  the  Bleeding  Diamond  "  for  the  end,  and 
following  ''No  Name  "  with  "  Critical  Bulls"— or,  if 
the  varying  of  foreign  subjects  with  English  should 
render  it  more  advisable,  with  "  Persian  Papers  "  (not 
overmuch  of  them) — take  Morley  (if  you  have  him), 
or  "  Down  from  the  Clouds  "  for  the  middle,  and  so 
make  up.  On  no  consideration  put  in  any  Poem  that 
I  have  not  seen.  When  I  come  upon  a  strange  Poem 
in  print  and  publication,  my  distress  is  abject. 

According  to  my  Diary,  Monday  the  I7th  is  the  day 
for  making  up  the  Xmas  No.  As  soon  as  you  know 
for  certain  when  you  will  come  over,  let  me  know.  It 
will  be  a  very  difficult  making-up,  because  I  have 
written  20  pages  (I  suppose),  and  already  there  must 
be  no  end  of  Xmas  Nos.  got  and  getting,  into  type, 
and  generally  the  things  run  long.  But  I  read  every 
paper  as  soon  as  it  comes  here,  and  keep  myself  well 
primed  about  them  all,  to  make  selection  easier  by 
and  bye. 

Will  you  ask  whether  my  watch  has  come  to  the 
office  from  Hunt  and  Eoskell's  ?  And  if  not,  will  you 
send  there  for  it  ?  It  went  to  have  a  new  spring,  and 
in  the  meantime  they  lent  me  one  which  goes  like  the 
Clown's  in  a  Pantomime. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Paris,  Kue  du  Faubourg  St.  Honors,  27, 

Friday y  Seventh  November y  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — We  certainly  are  getting  the 
columns  up,  to  an  amazing  extent!  But  I  cannot 
release  any  of  the  matter  until  you  come,  because  the 
Xmas  No.  can  only  be  made  up,  on  a  careful  comparison 


18G2]  JOHN   GIBSON  LOCKHART.  315 

of   the  relative  merits  and  possibilities  of   the  best 
things  we  have. 

Let  me  know  whether,  when  you  arrive,  you  propose 
to  come  straight  here.  If  so,  we  will  try  to  get  you  a 
bedroom  close  at  hand,  and  I  think  we  can  do  it 
without  difficulty  at  a  clean  little  hotel  over  the  way. 
But  if  your  Imperial  charge  should  involve  your  going 
to  any  other  Hotel  at  first,  then  let  me  know  as  much, 
so  that  we  may  not  provide  for  you  in  vain.  I  will 
ask  you  to  bring  my  watch,  and  perhaps  a  pair  of 
trousers  ;  but  on  this  head,  more  in  due  course. 

I  saw  the  advertisement  yesterday,  at  the  top  of 
Olliffe's  Times. 

( —  And  I  am  again  revolving  restlessly,  Australia 
in  my  head !) 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Pakis, 

Tuesday,  Eleventh  November^  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Will  you  tell  Mrs.  Linton  that, 
in  looking  over  her  admirable  account  (most  admirable) 
of  Mrs.  Gordon's  book,  I  have  taken  out  the  refer- 
ences to  liOckhart,  not  because  I  in  the  least  doubt 
their  justice,  but  because  I  knew  him  and  he  liked  me. 
And  because,  one  bright  day  in  Rome,  I  walked  about 
with  him  for  some  hours  when  he  was  dying  fast,  and 
all  the  old  faults  had  faded  out  of  him,  and  the  mere 
ghost  of  the  handsome  man  I  had  first  known  when 
Scott's  daughter  was  at  the  head  of  his  house  had 
little  more  to  do  with  this  world  than  she  in  her 
grave,  or  Scott  in  his,  or  small  Hugh  Littlejohn  in  his. 
Lockhart  had  been  anxious  to  see  me  all  the 
previous  day  (when  I  was  away  on  the  Campagna), 


316  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

and  as  we  walked  about  I  knew  very  well  that  he 
knew  very  well,  why.  He  talked  of  getting  better, 
but  I  never  saw  him  again.  This  makes  me  stay 
Mrs.  Linton's  hand,  gentle  as  it  is.* 

Next  as  to  your  coming.  In  order  that  you  may 
be  over  the  way,  just  opposite  (an  immense  convenience 
compared  with  having  to  go  round  to  the  Rue  de 
Rivoli  or  elsewhere)  I  have  taken  you  a  room  for  a  week 
from  next  Thursday.  On  Saturday  morning,  unless 
you  advise  me  to  the  contrary,  you  will  find  it  ready 
for  you,  and  a  good  fire  there.  We  will  breakfast 
here  at  half  past  9.  Observe :  Your  number  is  38  Eue 
du  Faubourg  St.  Honor^ ;  ours  is  27.  The  No.  of 
your  room  itseK  is  7.  Your  house  is  called  "The 
Hotel  St.  Honors." 

Bring  treasure  with  you,  because  I  think  A.Y.R. 
must  stand  a  Eestaurant  Dinner,  and  a  Box  at   the 

Play. 

Also  will  you  bring  me,  if  you  conveniently  can, 
the  following  articles : 

1.  Cash  for  the  enclosed  cheque,  in  gold. 

2.  My  watch. 

3.  The  Nos.  of  A.Y.R.  from  No.  182  inclusive. 

4.  A  pair  of  new  trousers  from  Skinners  my  Tailors, 

if  John  has  received  such  a  parcel  since  I  left. 
Your  idea  of  our  title  being  taken  hold  of  by  ''  sharks 
and  pirates  "  (see  "  Larboard  Fin  "|)  had  also  come  into 
my  head,  and  when  you  wrote  to  me,  I  was  going  to 
write  to  you  ! !  I  wonder  the  reeling  brain  of  Holds- 
worth  bears  all  this  pressure.  But  its  weakness 
(excessive)  is  probably  its  strength. 

*  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "Letters,"  II.,  207,  as  part  of  a  letter  of 
December  20th,  1863. 

t  Another  allusion  to  the  imaginary  drama,  the  authorship  of  which  was 
imputed  by  Dickens  to  Wills. 


1862J  "A  FRENCH   SOLDIER."  317 

I  write  all  that  concerns  tomorrow's  make-up  on  the 
other  side,  in  order  that  you  may  have  it  by  itself  for 
reference. 

For  your  guidance  when  you  come  over,  I  enclose  a 
list  of  the  Xmas  No.  papers,  received  from  Birtles 
this  morning.  I  have  put  a  mark  X  against  all  the 
papers  that  have  come  to  me. 

Faithfully  ever, 

C.  D. 

[This  is  part  of  the  preceding  letter.] 
Concerning  No.  188. 

I  cannot  take  your  make-up  as  it  stands,  because 
two  of  the  papers  included  in  it,  are  perfectly  unknown 
to  me;  and  at  least  one  of  them — "A  French 
Soldier  " — is  on  a  very  important  subject  indeed. 
Because  I  have  convinced  myself  in  my  French 
wanderings  this  summer,  that  the  French  Soldier  is 
being  improved,  in  a  most  alarming  manner,  every 
day,  and  that  ours  is  at  least  a  century  behind  him. 

You  will  understand  from  the  foregoing,  that  I  have 
no  proof  of  "  A  French  Soldier,"  or  of  ''A  Clear  Title 
to  Land."  If  the  latter  be  a  useful  article  (as  I  suppose), 
some  such  make-up  as  this,  would  be  the  best. 

"No  Name" 14f 

"John  Wilson"         9 

"  A  Clear  Title  to  Land  "^ 

or  V  say        5 

"  At  Home  at  Teheran  "  J 

"  Small  Beer  Chronicles  " 9| 

One  of  Mr.  Harwood's  stories, 
reduced  to  the  cols,  wanting. 

I  think  "  A  Cheap  Passage  Home  "  is  the  best  of 
his  Stories.  I  have  no  corrections  to  make  in 
"  Virgilius  the  Enchanter,"  so  that  too  is  available. 


318  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [18G2 

PakiSj 

Friday,  Twenty-first  November,  1862. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  see  that  Mrs.  Gaskell  has  put 
a  name  to  her  story — at  the  end,  instead  of  the 
beginning — which  is  characteristic.  The  addition  of 
one  word  will  make  it  a  striking  name.  Call  the 
story 

"A  Dark  Night's  Work." 
— and  don't  confound  it  with  a  cold  night's  work : 
which  you  must  have  had  last  night. 

You  got  to  London  safe  and  sound,  and  found  Mrs. 
Wills  ditto  ditto  ?  All  send  kindest  regard.  The 
breakfast-corner  looked  quite  unfurnished  this  morning 
when  I  went  in,  without  you  and  Galignani. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Paris, 

Tuesday,  Twenty-fifth  November,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — With  the  alteration  I  am  going 
to  mention,  I  prefer  the  enclosed  make-up. 

It  is  not  a  No.  strong  enough  for  Ollier's  Poem 
(which  is  maudlin),  if  anything  can  be  put  into  its 
place.  What  I  should  like  best,  would  be  to  get  in 
some  reasonably  good  prose  article,  after  Murray  ;  get- 
ting the  excess  it  would  occasion,  out  of  the  ''  Cotton  " 
paper.*  I  see  no  such  article  in  the  List,  but  perhaps 
you  may  have  one  in  MS.  Something  light  and 
pleasant  in  that  place — and  no  poem — would  be  a 
great  improvement. 

It  is  not  worth  while  my  posting  the  proofs  this 
time ;  I  go  on  to  add  all  I  have  to  say  respecting 
them. 

•  "  state  and  Prospects  of  Cotton,"  December  13th, 


18G2]  RULE   BRITANNIA   BRITONS.  319 

Take  out  of  Murray  anything  '*  swell " — such  as 
the  word  ''  shindy,"  or  any  similar  yaw-yawdom. 
Take  out  his  last  paragraph,  touching  his  gallant 
steed,  altogether. 

In  cutting  the  "  Cotton"  paper  to  such  dimensions 
as  you  can  find  room  for,  take  nothing  out  of  the  first 
slip.  Because  the  Manchester  School  deserves  all  the 
schooling  it  can  get,  touching  its  reduction  to  the 
grossest  absurdity  of  the  supply-and-demand  dogma- 
tism, and  its  pig-headed  reliance  on  men's  not  going 
to  war  against  their  interest.  As  if  the  vices  and 
passions  of  men  had  not  been  running  counter  to 
their  interests  since  the  Creation  of  the  World ! 

Miss  Edwards  I  have  done. 

"  Fire  "  had  best  be  distributed — paid  for,  of  course. 
It  is  a  mere  dilution — and  a  very  dry  one — of  a  very 
well-known  paper  in  H.  W. 

If  Spicer  is  in  town,  couldn't  he  do  a  droll  paper 
representing  himself,  a  Londoner,  as  having — say 
seven — quiet  visitors  from  the  country  (Rule  Britannia 
Britons  every  one  of  them,  regarding  other  Empires 
and  States  as  in  mere  outer  darkness) ;  and  giving 
the  particulars  of  their  all  being  knocked  down, 
garrotted,  choked,  robbed,  and  half  murdered,  in  one 
day  ?     Or  Mr.  Halliday  might  do  such  a  thing. 

The  more  1  think  of  "Never  Say  Die,"  the  less  I 
like  it.  There  is  no  weight  in  it,  and  it  is  weakly  open 
to  all  kinds  of  joking.  Something  more  expressive  of 
No  Surrender  would  be  better.  Something  like 
"  Thorough  "— "  True  to  the  Death  "— "  Onward  "— 
"  Firm  as  a  Rock  " — "  Perseverance  " — "  Nailed  to 
the  Mast " — "  True  to  the  Colours  " — would  be  more 
like  it,  if  I  understand  the  intention. 

I  mean  to  cross  over  on  Friday  afternoon,  so  as  to 


320  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1862 

get  all  Saturday  in  town.  I  want  to  see  about 
Frank's*  prospects  and  other  things.  Will  you  tell 
John  to  have  ready  for  my  dinner,  at  G  on  Friday,  a 
bit  of  fish  and  a  nice  little  joint  of  mutton,  and  will 
you  tell  him  that  Edmund  Yates  will  probably  dine 
with  me.  I  shall  expect  the  honor  of  Frank's  com- 
pany, of  course  (please  tell  him),  unless  he  is  otherwise 
engaged. 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

Paris, 

Thursday,  Fourth  December,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  so  apprehensive  of  some 
pervading  mistake  (which  may  involve  other  things) 
having  been  made  at  the  office  about  the  Xmas  No. 
that  I  send  you  another  letter  today,  to  let  you  know 
that  no  presentation  Xmas  No.  has  arrived  here.  We 
have  none.  Lady  Molesworth  has  none,  Lady  Olliffe 
has  none.  I  have  sent  round  this  morning  to  make 
sure  of  the  fact.  It  has  made  me  rather  ridiculous, 
as  they  besieged  me  for  the  No.  on  my  return,  and  I 
had  brought  none,  in  order  that  I  might  not  confuse 
the  office  arrangements.  But  this  is  nothing :  the 
grave  thing  is  the  break- down  of  three  packets — 
which  suggests  thirty — or  three  hundred — or  three 
thousand. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  seen  Lehmann. 
He  too  has  none. 

*  Hia  third  son. 


1863J  "A    BARK    NIGHT'S    WORK."  321 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Saturday,  Twenty-seventh  December,  1862. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  should  very  much  like  to 
help  Miss  Power  to  publish  her  "  Pictures  from 
Egypt,"  if  I  could.  As  well  as  I  can  make  out,  it 
will  form  a  good  octavo  volume  about  6/-  or  7/-. 
Will  you  mind  asking  Sampson  Low  if  he  would  treat 
for  it  ?  He  can  see  the  MS.  of  course,  and  I  shall 
have  it  on  Monday.  I  would  give  him  a  good  title 
for  it,  if  he  bought  it.  Miss  Power  wants  to  set  her 
mind  at  rest  about  the  book  as  soon  as  she  can.  Of 
coui'se  Low  may  know  that  I  am  interested  in  it.* 

Faithfully  always, 
CD. 

1863. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  year  Dickens  again  went 
to  Paris  for  the  purpose  of  giving  readings  at  the 
British  Embassy  on  behalf  of  a  charity.  He  left 
Paris  on  February  5th,  and  after  a  ten  days'  tour 
went  home.  Later  on  he  gave  another  series  of 
readings  in  London  at  the  Hanover  Square  Rooms. 


Hotel  du  Helder,  Paris, 

Sunday,  Eighteenth  January,  1863. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — Your  Thursday's  letter  did  not 
arrive  here  until  after  post  time  on  Friday  night. 
Therefore  I  could  not  answer  it  until  today. 

I  am  in  a  mess  with  "  A  Dark  Night's  Work,"|  for 

*  Writing  to  Miss  Power  on  February  26th,  18()3  ("  Letters,"  11.,  194), 
Dickens  tells  her  he  has  found  a  "  first-rate  title  "  for  her  book  : — "  Arabian 
Days  and  Nights." 

t  Mrs.  Gaskell's  story.    It  began  in  All  the  Year  Round,  January  24th. 

D.E.  Y 


322  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1863 

I  find  it  difiicult  to  understand  where  we  are.  Follow 
me  with  the  eye  of  your  mind. 

The  3rd  portion — consists  of  chapters  7  and  8. 

The  4th  portion  begins  with  the  printed  slip, 
numbered  27.  Turn  the  slips  over,  until  you  come 
to  the  one  numbered  32.  At  the  end  of  the  first 
paragraph,  after  the  words  ''happened  at  a  sadder 
time,"  insert  ChajUer  X. — which  will  then  begin, 
"  Before  the  June  roses  were  in  full  bloom."  Turn 
on  again  until  you  come  to  slip  numbered  34,  and 
stop  that  portion  at  the  end  of  the  first  paragraph  on 
it,  after  the  words  "  except  Dixon,  could  have  gone 
straight  to  her  grave." 

The  5th  portion  will  begin,  *'  Chapter  XI.  In  a 
few  days  Miss  Monroe  obtained."  The  story  must  be 
altogether,  in  6  portions,  and  I  will  send  you  the 
dividing  of  the  two  last,  tomorrow. 

The  Eeading  here  last  night  was  a  most  tremendous 
and  brilliant  success,  paling  all * 


Pakis, 

3Ionday,  Nineteenth  January,  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Looking  at  your  letter  again 
and  finding  a  Make  Up  in  it,  I  think  it  best  to  confine 
my  today's  attention  to  the  Proofs  you  want.  You 
will  find  them  enclosed  and  corrected.  In  another 
letter  you  will  find  Robert  Lytton's  Poem,  to  which  I 
say  decidedly  Yes,  as  being  novel  and  picturesque. 

I  cannot  bear  the  notion  of  the  "Academy  for  Cooks" 
going  next  to  "  Illiberal  Doctors. "|  Lytton's  Poem 
would  be  far  better  there,  or  the  article  (not  returned, 

*  The  rest  of  this  letter  is  missing, 
t  All  the  Year  Round,  February  7th. 


1863]  READING    IN    PARIS.  323 

for  I  see  nothing  to  change  in  it)  called   "  Giving 
Up."* 

"A  Dark  IS'ight's  Work,"  concluding  portions,  I 
also  sound  [send]. 

Home  could  not — no,  even  Home  could  not — have 
chosen  a  more  wonderful  subject  for  his  Lecture. 

The  Eeading  here  so  stuns  and  oversets  the 
Parisians,  that  I  shall  have  to  do  it  again.  Blazes  of 
Triumph  ! 

All  proofs  on  hand  here  shall  follow  presently. 
(Take  out  the  "  Academy  for  Cooks  "  ;  don't  forget.) 

Ever  faithfully, 
C.  D. 

Paeis, 

Wednesday,  Twenty-first  [January~],  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — As  I  shall  have  an  opportunity 
of  sending  over  what  proofs  I  have,  by  hand,  so  that 
you  may  get  them  about  Saturday,  I  put  them  up 
now.  I  am  chased  out  of  Paris  by  enthusiasm,  and 
shall  not  come  back  for  some  five  days. 

"  How  we  began  the  War  "  I  keep  back,  because  it 
ivon't  do :  it  is  so  dismally  out  of  date.  Nor  can  I 
point  "  Eule  Britannia  "  f  better  than  I  have  done.  In 
all  our  years  of  work,  I  never  saw  such  an  intolerably 
slovenly  paper,  as  "  Our  Village  on  the  Mediterranean. "J 
Look  well  to  the  revise,  for  I  have  made  more  correc- 
tion than  there  is  proof.  The  more  I  think  of  Eeade's 
story  the  more  I  think  that  "Very  Hard  Cash,"  or  "As 
Safe  as  the  Bank" — one  of  the  two — would  be  a  capital 
title. 

•  All  the.  Year  Round,  February  7th. 

f  This  was  rechristened  "Very  Free  and  Very  Easy,"  and  appeared  in  the 
issue  of  February  2l8t  (see  letter  of  February  4th,  ^ws^. 
\  All  the  Year  Rounds  January  31st. 

Y   2 


324  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1863 

I  have  no  more  important  news  than  the  astounding 
intelligence  that  John  *  has  no  British  prejudices  ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

How  were  the  Surrey  Hounds  when  last  heard  of  ? 


Paris,  Hotel  du  Helder, 

Thursday,  Twenty-ninth  January,  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  knew — and  I  think  I  mentioned 
in  the  letter  accompanying  them — that  you  would  not 
get  these  proofs  imtil  after  an  interval.  But  as  they 
did  not  press,  I  thought  it  useless  to  forego  the  safe 
and  slow  opportunity.  I  am  very  sorry  that  "  Our 
Village  on  the  Mediterranean"  went  in  ivithout  my 
corrections.     It  was  so  horribly  in  need  of  them. 

You  did  beyond  all  question  perfectly  right  in 
Harper's  matter.  For  my  part,  I  think  the  gain  at 
the  best,  not  equal  to  the  loss.  The  perpetual  sliding 
away  of  temporary  subjects  at  which  I  could  dash  with 
effect,  is  a  great  loss. 

From (not  one  of  the  wise  men  of  the  East,  or 

any  other  quarter  of  the  compass),  I  have  a  letter 
about  what  could  be  done  for  us  in  the  printing  way, 
at  what  low  charges,  by — if  I  remember  the  name 
right — Han-ison's  house.  It  will  keep  till  I  come 
back.  It  is  curiously  appropriate  to  your  uneasiness 
in  that  regard. 

I  will  turn  to  at  the  proofs  as  soon  as  the  Keadings 
are  over.  The  first  at  10  francs  is  tonight ;  the  second, 
tomorrow  night.  I  believe  everything  is  let  out. 
Imagine  my  being  so  entirely  out  of  "  Dombey,"  that  I 

*  John  was  his  servant. 


18G3]  "VERY    HARD    CASH."  325 

have   been  obliged   to  go    down   this   morning   and 
rehearse  it  in  the  room  ! 

Many  thanks  for  your  consideration  in  the  matter 
of  the  boys'  fares.  But  Alfred's  will  be  a  short  spell, 
and  I  hope  the  money  is  well  spent. 

The  rise,  I  take  to  be  consequent  on  the  Xmas  No. 
So  no  more  at  present  from 

Yours  ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

P.S. — Except  that  you  had  best  do  with  ''  A  Dark 
Night's  Work,"  the  best  you  can — always  trying  to 
begin  a  chapter  where  I  have  begun  one,  and  sub- 
dividing afterwards,  ij  you  can.  Write  me  a  line  by 
tomorrow  (Friday)  night's  post,  if  you  have  anything 
you  think  it  necessary  to  suggest  or  ask,  respecting 
the  said  "Dark  Night's  Work." 

The  title  for  Eeade  is  decidedly  a  good  one. 

Hotel  du  Helder,  Paris, 

Sunday,  First  February,  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills: — As  to  the  No.* — "Street  Terrors" 
I  have  already  seen.  Do.,  "Before  the  Trial  by  Combat." 
"  From  the  Life  of  Horace  Vernet"  all  right,  except  that 
"  I  said,"  should  be  "  I  have  said,"  towards  the  bottom 
of  slip  2.  "  Small  Beer  Chronicles  "  I  return  herewith 
corrected.  "A  Cheap  Passage  Home"  I  corrected  long 
ago.  Herewith  I  return  all  slips  of  "  A  Dark  Night's 
Work  "  that  have  marks  of  mine  upon  them.  The  rest 
I  retain  and  destroy,  to  save  postage. 

John  will  be  back  in  London  next  Thursday  night. 
He  shall  bring  with  him,  corrected  ready  for  use,  all 
the  proofs  I  have,  or  may  have,  here. 

•  All  the  Year  Ilou7td,  February  14th. 


326  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1863 

Then  observe  my  movements, — which  involve  the 
necessity  of  Gad's  Hill  impatience  (if  it  be  impatient) 
being  curbed  yet  a  little  while.  I  too  shall  leave  here 
on  Thursday,  and  shall  take  about  a  ten  days'  tour. 
Then  I  shall  return  for  good,  and  come  straight  to  the 
office.  As  I  don't  want  to  fix  myself  to  any  particular 
place  during  the  ten  days,  I  do  not  know  that  I  can 
give  you  any  reasonable  idea  where  to  address  me. 
Therefore  will  you  write  to  me  here  concerning  the 
next  No.  so  that  I  may  get  your  letter  before  John  leaves 
me,  and  answer  it  i^er  John  aforesaid. 

Never  was  anything  like  the  last  Eeading  here. 
Never,  Never,  Never ! 

Murmurs  of  Kinglake's  book*  have  crossed  the 
water.  If  he  ever  comes  to  Paris,  he  will  have  a  trifle 
of  fighting  on  his  hands. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Please  report  how  we  are  going. 

Hotel  du  Helder,  Paris, 

Wednesday,  Fourth  February,  1863. 

Ourselves  and  A.  Y.  B. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  send  by  John,  with  this,  all 
the  miscellaneous  proofs  I  have.  To  wit, "  Skin  Deep,"t 
(called  originally,  "  Sontorio  and  His  Theories)," 
"Small  Beer  Chronicles,"  "  Some  Curious  Lights,"  J 
(called originally  "Light-Bearing"),  "Dress in  Paris,";}: 
(done  with  great  fidelity  from  a  book  I  have  been  reading 
here,  and  which  everybody  here  reads,  becauseithas  been 

*  "  The  Invasion  of  the  Crimea,"  the  first  portion  of  which,  containing 
severe  criticisms  of  Napoleon  III.,  appeared  this  year, 
t  Appeared  February  21st, 
j  Appeared  February  28th. 


1863]  THE    PARIS    AUDIENCE.  327 

suppressed),  "  Fur  Hunters,"*  and  ^'  What  a  Bad 
Hand";  the  last  named  article  to  be  remorselessly 
distributed,  and  given  to  any  of  the  four  winds  of 
Heaven  that  will  accept  it.  I  have  omitted  to  mention 
"  Yoltaire's  Heart,"  f  but  that  I  also  send. 

For  the  most  part,  I  think  these  articles  are  better 
than  those  you  mention  in  your  letter  received  this 
morning;  excepting  ''Kule  Britannia" — which  you  call 
by  its  old  name,  forgetting  that  I  have  rechristened 
it,  "Very  Free  and  Very  Easy. "J 

Make  the  last  Ko.  of  the  Volume  and  the  first  No. 
of  the  Volume  as  strong  as  you  can. 

A  most  noble  month's  balance  certainly  ! !  1 

In  re  Frank. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  a  damaging  thing,  suddenly  to 
withhold  from  him  money  that  he  expects.  Therefore 
I  would  give  him  his  month's  three  pounds — with  a 
caution  that  the  Settling  Day  is  near  at  hand,  and  that 
I  shall  soon  be  home. 

Myself  and  Paris. 

It  is  really  the  general  Parisian  impression  that 
such  a  hit  was  never  made  here.  The  curiosity  and 
interest  and  general  buzz  about  it  are  quite  indescrib- 
able. They  are  so  extraordinarily  quick  to  understand 
a  face  and  gesture,  going  together,  that  one  of  the 
remarkable  points  is,  that  people  who  don't  understand 
English,  positively  understand  the  Headings !  I 
suppose  that  such  an  audience  for  a  piece  of  Art  is 
not  to  be  found  in  the  world.  I  wish  you  could  have 
seen  them — firstly,  for  my  effect  upon  them — secondly, 

*  Appeared  March  14th. 
t  Appeared  March  21at. 
I  Appeared  February  21st. 


328  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G3 

for  their  effect  upon  me.  You  have  no  idea  what 
they  made  of  me.  I  got  things  out  of  the  old  "Carol" — 
effects  I  mean — so  entirely  new  and  so  very  strong, 
that  I  quite  amazed  myself  and  wondered  where  I  was 
going  next.  I  really  listened  to  Mr.  Peggotty's 
narrative  in  ''  Copperfield,"  with  admiration.  When 
Little  Emily's  letter  was  read,  a  low  murmur  of  irre- 
pressible emotion  went  about  like  a  sort  of  sea.  When 
Steerforth  made  a  pause  in  shaking  hands  with  Ham, 
they  all  lighted  up  as  if  the  notion  fired  an  electric 
chain.  When  David  proposed  to  Dora,  gorgeous 
beauties  all  radiant  with  diamonds,  clasped  their  fans 
between  their  two  hands,  and  rolled  about  in  ecstasy. 
They  took  the  storm  as  if  they  were  in  it.  As  to  the 
"  Trial,"  their  perception  of  the  Witnesses,  and  par- 
ticularly of  Mr.  Winkle,  was  quite  extraordinary. 
And  whenever  they  saw  the  old  Judge  coming  in,  they 
tapped  one  another  and  laughed  with  that  amazing 
relish  that  I  could  hardly  help  laughing  as  much 
myself.  All  this  culminated  on  the  last  night,  when 
they  positively  applauded  and  called  out  expressions 
of  delight,  out  of  the  room  into  the  cloak  room,  out 
of  the  cloak  room  into  their  carriages,  and  in  their 
carriages  away  down  the  Faubourg. 

Of  course,  if  I  had  gone  on,  I  could  have  made  a 
great  deal  of  money.  But  I  thought  the  dignified 
course  was  to  stop.  I  could  not  reconcile  myself  to 
the  notion  of  making  the  charitable  help,  the  stepping- 
stone.     So,  for  the  present,  I  have  done  here. 

Does  it  strike  you,  however,  that  there  is  nothing 
against  taking  advantage  of  the  general  notoriety  of 
this  unusual  success,  in  London  ?  Would  you,  if  you 
were  I,  go  on  at  St.  James's  Hall  as  of  yore  ?  If  you 
should  be  quite  satisfied  on  this  head — not  otherwise — 


18G3]  "MRS.    LIRRIPER'S    LODGINGS."  329 

would  you  write  for  me  to  Blockheadland  *  (Sussex 
Hotel,  Eastbourne)  telling  him  that  I  shall  be  back  for 
good,  within  a  fortnight,  and  that  I  want  him  to  be 
prepared  with  six  or  nine  evenings  for  choice,  about 
once  a  week,  or  two  within  eight  days,  and  holding  to 
the  old  Thursdays,  if  possible  ?  Beginning  about  the 
end  of  the  month.  Of  course  he  is  to  understand  that 
he  commits  me  to  nothing  until  he  has  seen  me  at  the 
office. 

I  leave  here  tomorrow  morning  long  before  post 
time. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Faithfully  yours, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HlGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Monday,  Fourteenth  September,  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — As  I  am  sending  over  to 
Rochester  tonight,  and  as  I  got  your  note  before 
dinner,  and  as  you  will  perhaps  be  glad  to  have  a  line 
from  me,  and  as  the  local  post  will  probably  let  you 
have  it  in  the  course  of  a  week  or  so,  I  send  these 
lines  : 

To  report  that  Charley  Collins  sends  assurance  of 
his  "  Mechanical  Horse  "  f  arriving  in  a  hand-gallop, 
and  that  I  jobbed  up  an  "  Uncommercial"  and  sent 
Revise  to  Birtles  today  per  messenger,  and  that  I  have 
begun  the  Xmas  No.,  and  that  the  title  is  : 

"Mrs.  Lirriper's  Lodgings." 
— I  am  going  to  do  "  Mrs.   Lirripcr,"  and  hope  to 

*  See  letter  of  November  22nd,  ISi'.l,  note, 
t  All  the  i'ear  Jiimiid,  October  3rcl. 


330  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18C3 

make  something  of  her.     I  think  the  title  is  a  good 
one? 

Kind  regard  to  Mrs.  Wills. 

Ever  affectionately, 

C.  D. 

My  poor  mother  died  quite  suddenly  at  last.  Her 
condition  was  frightful. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 

Sunday,  Twentieth  December,  1863. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  clear  that  you  took  my 
cold.  Why  didn't  you  do  the  thing  completely,  and 
take  it  away  from  me  ?     For  it  hangs  by  me  still. 

I  have  restored  Spicer's  incident  (sending  the  proof 
and  insertion  straight  to  Birtles),  and  have  also 
written  to  Spicer  and  told  him  what  is  curious  to  me 
— that  he  does  not  in  the  least  suspect  why  I  took  it 
out.  I  did  so,  because  it  tells  his  story.  His  main 
incident  is  gone — disclosed  to  any  sharp  reader — the 
moment  that  passage  is  read.  It  occurs  in  the  first 
portion. 

Mrs.  Lirriper  is  indeed  a  most  brilliant  old  lady. 
God  bless  her  !  * 

I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  being  "  haunted,"  and 
hope  to  increase  your  stock  of  such  Ghosts  pretty 
liberally.* 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

I  shall  be  at  the  office  on  Wednesday  morning  from 
i  before  11  to  12. 

*  These   two   paraj^raphs  are   printed    in  "  Letters,"    II.,  207,  with  an 
interpolated  paragraph  taken  from  a  letter  of  November  Ilth,  18G2. 


18C4]  "OrR    MUTUAL    FRIEND."  331 

1864. 

During  this  year  Dickens  was  at  work  on  "  Our 
Mutual  Friend,"  the  first  monthly  number  of  which 
appeared  on  May  1st.  Mr.  Marcus  Stone  was  the 
illustrator. 

From  February  to  June  he  was  in  London,  at  57, 
Gloucester  Place,  Hyde  Park,  after  that  at  Gad's 
Hill. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

High  AM  by  Eochestek,  Kent, 

Friday  J  Eighteenth  March,  1864. 
57,  Gloster  Place. 

My  Dear  Wills  ; — I  hope  you  won't  send  the 
price  of  Brandy  up,  for  I  want  to  buy  a  cask. 

Yesterday  I  went  to  the  office  and  wrote  to  Morley, 
about  the  No.  begging  him  to  send  me  the  Proofs 
here.  For  I  have  given  a  meeting  to  Forster  today, 
who  wants  to  see  me.  All  is  right  and  straight,  no 
doubt.  We  will  take  counsel  together  (I  can  come 
to  you  any  day  in  the  afternoon,  mind)  when  Lilie's 
estimate  comes  in.  The  office  at  present  is  simply 
hideous. 

I  send  you  the  first  3  Nos.  of  ''  Our  Mutual  Friend." 
When  you  have  done  with  them  let  me  have  them 
again,  as  they  contain  my  marks  for  the  Printer. 

Edmund  [Yates]  wrote  to  ask  me  what  I  thought 
of  his  going  to  the  Volunteer  night  attack  and  defence 
in  Kent.     I  told  him  he  might  try  it* 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

*  The  original  of  this  letter  is  written  on  black-edrred  paper.  Dickens's 
second  sou,  Walter  Landor,  a  lieutenant  in  the  42nd  Highlanders,  had  died 
in  India  on  December  Slst  of  the  previous  year.  The  news  reaclietl  Dickens 
only  on  February  7th. 


332  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G4 

OFFICE   OF  ALL  THE   YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Saturday  J  Second  Aprils  1864. 

My  Dear  "Wills  : — I  hope  you  are  deriving 
benefit  from  the  sea — and  the  shore — and  the  young 
ladies  on  horseback — and  the  Jews — and  the  riding 
masters — and  the  schools — and  the  gallant  seamen 
who  never  do  what  England  expects  of  them,  in  the 
least. 

As  next  week  will  not  be  my  working-time  at 
"  Our  Mutual  Friend,"  I  shall  devote  the  day  of 
Friday  {not  the  evening)  to  making  up  here.  There- 
fore I  write  to  say  that  if  you  would  rather  stay 
where  you  are,  than  come  to  London,  don't  come.  I 
shall  throw  my  hat  into  the  ring  at  11,  and  shall 
receive  all  the  punishment  that  can  be  administered 
by  two  Nos.  on  end,  like  a  British  glutton.* 

Ever, 
C.  D. 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EoCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Friday,  Fifteenth  April,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — By  all  means.  Any  time  after 
3  on  Wednesday  afternoon.  But  don't  you  think 
you  had  best  come  and  dine  here,  and  make  up  the 
No.  ?     The  office  is  the  Abode  of  Desolation. 

There  was  no  letter  of  mine  to  Thackeray  about  the 

♦  This  paragraph  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  218,  but  is  wrongly  incor- 
porated iu  a  letter  dated  October  IGth,  18()1. 


]864]  JOHN.  333 

Yates  matter  (that  I  can  remember),  but  one — and 
that  was  published  at  the  time,  in  Yates's  pamphlet.* 

I  hope  John  will  get  his  voice  on  the  margin  of  the 
sounding  deep. 

—  But  Lord  bless  you,  you  have  no  idea  of  what  I 
said,  from  those  wretched  accounts.  I  hate  the  thought 
of  anybody's  reading  them. 

Kindest  regards  to  the  Ladies. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

We'll  have  a  bet  on  "  Our  Mutual  Friend,"  when 
we  meet. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT. 

57,  Gloster  Place,  Hyde  Park  Gardens, 

Sunday  Evening ,  Eighth  May^  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  have  heard,  I  daresay,  of 
the  deplorable  condition  of  poor  John.  His  life  still 
hangs  on  a  hair,  but  there  seemed  a  shade  of  hope 
this  afternoon.  I  am  going  out  to  him  again  tonight. 
Beard  is  really  a  Guardian  Angel  to  him. 

But  it  is  not  to  say  this,  that  I  write ;  but  to  tell 
you  that  that  diabolical  wife  and  her  sister,  being  left 
last  night  to  watch  him,  got  blind  drunk  together  on 
Gin — omitted  everything  they  had  undertaken  to  do — 
dropped  Gin  and  God  knows  what  over  his  poor  dying 
figure — and  pitched  into  the  landlady  and  attendant 

*  A  reference  to  bis  controversy  with  Thackeray  about  Edmund  Yates's 
expulsion  from  the  Garrick  Club.  Yates  had  in  a  i)ublished  article  com- 
mented on  Thackeray — both  were  members  of  the  Garrick — in  a  manner 
which  the  latter  resented.  Thackeray  brought  the  matter  before  the  com- 
mittee of  the  club,  who  expelled  Yates.  Dickuns,  thinking  expulsion  too 
severe  a  penalty,  took  Yates's  part,  and  Tiiackeray  was  annoyetl  at  his 
interference.  There  was  a  reconciliation  between  them  before  Thackeray's 
death. 


334  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1864 

gossips  when  with  natural  indignation  they  found 
them  this  morning  and  took  their  gin  away.  John 
was  then  doubled  up,  his  knees  to  his  head,  sinking 
out  of  life.  And  so  Beard  found  him.  Of  course  we 
take  care  that  he  is  not  left  to  those  amicable  mercies 
any  more. 

Pray  have  this  made  known  in  its  fullest  atrocity 
to  everybody  at  the  office,  and  let  everybody  be  strictly 
charged  never  on  any  pretence  to  let  the  woman  into 
the  house.  If  she  wants  anything  out  of  the  house, 
the  children  must  come  for  it,  or  she  must  go  without 
it ;  but  she  is  never  to  be  let  in.  And  pray  let  them 
understand  that  we  would  immediately  discharge  any- 
body who — even  in  mistaken  compassion,  or  for  any 
other  mistakenly  good  reason — disobeyed  this  injunc- 
tion. I  tumbled  her  out  of  the  sick  chamber  just 
now,  and  will  at  least  (John  lost  or  saved)  have  done 
with  that  abominable  wretch. 

I  find  that  she  has  been  perpetually  drunk  ever 
since  they  have  been  to  Kentish  Town.  I  hope  to 
deposit  her  (with  the  Lord's  help)  in  Kentish  Town 
Station  House  yet ! 

Ever, 
CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  BOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Friday,  Ttventieth  May,  1864. 
57,  Gloster  Place. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  statement  is  indeed  astound- 
ing, and  no  doubt  expresses  in  every  figure  that  goes 
to  make  up  every  result,  your  incessant  vigilance  and 
care  in  every  department  of  A.  Y.  B.  business.  This  I 
feel  strongly,  and  am  thoroughly  well  assured  of. 


1864]  "  CmCUMLOCUTIONALLY."  335 

When  we  get  into  our  places  again,  and  often  meet 
at  the  office,  we  must  dive  into  that  question  of  the 
falliug-ofP.  Of  course  we  have  to  consider  that  Sala's 
is  not  a  good  name,  and  that  he  is  accustomed  to 
address  a  lower  audience.  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  an  anonymous  story  depending  on  its  own  merits 
would  be  better  for  us  than  he. 

We  must  drink  a  glass  of  wine  together  tomorrow, 
to  the  next  balance  sheet. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Tiventy-sixth  June,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  carefully  gone  over  all 
the  Proofs,  and  here  they  are.  The  No.  as  it  stands 
is  a  very  fair  one  indeed. 

I  have  complied  with  all  the  necessary  forms  about 
Mrs.  Austiri's''  pension,  and  am  Circumlocutionally 
apprised  that  on  application  at  the  Paymaster 
General's  Department  I  shall  "  receive  the  necessary 
instructions  as  to  obtaining  the  first  payment."  Will 
you  instruct  whosoever  goes  about  Poole's  pension 
after  the  1st  of  July,  to  make  enquiries  ?  I  hope  there 
may  be  arrears  to  receive. 

You  will  get  proof  of  '^  Our  Mutual  Friend," 
No.  VI.,  in  a  note  from  Townshend.  As  I  shall  want 
it  on  my  return,  please  have  it  ready  for  me  in  an 
envelope  on  my  table.  I  expect  to  be  at  the  office 
on  Thursday  the  7th  or  Friday  the  8th  at  latest. 

I  have  been  working  desperately  hard  to  get  away. 

It  has  occurred  to  me  that  the  next  "  Mrs.  Lirriper  " 

*  Dickens's  sister,  widow  of  Heury  Austin. 


336  CHAKLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1864 

might  have  a  mixing  in  it  of  Paris  and  London — she 
and  the  Major,  and  the  boy,  all  working  out  the  little 
story  in  the  two  places.  As  my  present  Mysterious 
Disappearance  is  in  that  direction,  I  will  turn  this 
over  on  French  ground  with  great  ease.  I  seem 
to  have  a  sort  of  inspiration  that  may  blend  the 
undiminished  attractions  of  Mrs.  Lirriper  with  those 
of  the  Babelle  life  in  Paris. 

Ever, 
CD. 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  ROCHESTEB,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Seventh  August,  1864. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — I  am  exceedingly  relieved 
by  your  account  of  the  invalid  which  came  to  hand  this 
morning.  I  read  it  aloud  at  breakfast,  to  the  great 
gratification  of  an  attentive  audience,  and  it  made 
so  great  a  sensation  that  you  really  might  have 
thought  him  rather  a  popular  personage  !  Yesterday 
I  had  it  in  my  mind,  somehow,  that  he  was  not  so 
well,  and  was  in  two  minds  whether  to  stay  quiet  here, 
or  come  or  send. 

Will  you  tell  him  with  my  love  that  I  shall  try  to 
work  at  my  book  (for  I  can't  do  it  in  this  heat,  though 
I  make  believe  every  day)  until  well  on  in  the  week 
— say  Friday,  when  I  shall  of  course  be  ready  to  do 
all  office  needful.  Also,  that  I  am  producible  there, 
at  any  time,  day  or  hour.  Also,  that  I  have  gone 
over  Mrs.   Sartoris's*  story  carefully,   and  sent   her 

*  Adelaide  Kemble,  younger  daughter  of  Charles  Kemble,  married 
Edward  Joliu  Sartoris  in  1843.  She  was  famous  as  a  singer.  Her  "A  Week 
in  a  French  Country  House  "  appeared  in  the  Curnhill,  and  was  published 
in  book-form  in  1867. 


18G4]  "MRS.   LIRRIPER'S"   CAP.  337 

for  correction  my  marked  proofs.     Lastly,  will  you 
congratulate  him  on  his  nurse,  and  tell  him  that  like 
the  Americans  I  "  defy  cre-ation  "  to  produce  a  better. 
Believe  me  always, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Saturday,  First  October,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  wrote  to  Holds  worth  yesterday 
about  the  fire,  saying  that  I  hoped  you  would  not  go 
up  to  town  and  that  I  would  be  at  the  office  on  Monday 
morning.      However  you  went,  and  did  all.      It  is 

much  to  be  regretted  that  we  could  not  take to 

Bow  Street.  In  the  case  of  so  nefarious  an  offence 
there  really  is  a  duty  to  be  done  to  Society — though 
I  am  almost  afraid  to  use  the  phrase  :  it  is  so  horribly 
abused.  It  is  curious  that  I  anticipated  the  facts  here, 
on  receiving  the  news. 

I  don't  like  "  Bees  "  as  a  subject :  having  had  my 
honey  turned  into  Gall  by  "Bee  Masters"  in  The 
Times.  I  think  I  have  a  better  paper — a  musical 
one — of  Chorley's.  I  will  see  to  it  the  first  thing  on 
Monday  and  will  see  Morley.  All  next  week  (except 
Thursday)  I  expect  to  be  at  the  office. 

"  Mrs.  Lirriper  "  is  again  in  hand.  I  have  flown 
off  from  the  finish  of  No.  IX.  of  "  Our  Mutual,"  to 
perch  upon  her  cap.  I  hope  to  make  way  apace  with 
her  at  the  office. 

You  asked  me  for  Plom's  address.     Here  it  is : 
The  Eev.  W.  C.  Sawyer, 
Cambridge  House, 
Tunbridge  Wells. 

D.E,  z 


^338  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1864 

I  hope  and  trust  you  are  by  this  time  getting  better. 
Set  yourself  up  for  the  Xmas  No.  campaign,  and  don't 
come  back  too  soon. 

Kind  regard  to  Mrs.  Wills, 

Ever  yours, 

C.  D. 

OFFICE  OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  26,  "Wellington  Street, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Saturday,  Eighth  October ,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Pray  let  me  know  how  the  leg 
comes  out.  I  am  very  anxious  to  be  informed  that 
it's  "  only  "  a  boil ! 

I  have  gone  through  the  No.  carefully,  and  have 
been  down  upon  Chorley's  paper*  in  particular,  which 
was  "  a  little  bit  "  too  personal.  It  is  all  right  now, 
and  good,  and  them's  my  sentiments  too  of  "The 
Music  of  the  Future." 

"  Mrs.  Lirriper  "t  will  be  in  your  arms,  I  trust  two 
or  three  days  hence.  I  have  enjoined  Birtles  to  the 
greatest  caution  in  setting  it  up,  and  have  told  him  to 
lock  up  the  type  and  pull  no  proof  but  on  a  written 
instruction  from  me.  I  have  done  the  opening 
paper  (longer  than  the  last,  I  fancy),  and  am  now 
knocking  off  the  couple  of  pages  or  so  for  the  end.  I 
am  something  the  worse  for  work,  and  have  an  idea 
of  going  to  the  sea  for  a  day  or  two  about  Friday 
next.     But  I  shall  be  here  until  further  notice. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

*  Presumably   "Old,   New,   and   No   Music,"   iu   All  the    Year  Round, 
October  22nd  and  November  5th. 

f  *'  Mrs.  Lirriper's  Legacy,"  the  CbrisLmas  number. 


18G4]  THE   BROUGHAM.  339 

Lord  Warden  Hotel,  Dover, 

Sundmj,  Sixteenth  October,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  was  unspeakably  relieved  and 
most  agreeably  surprised  to  get  your  letter  this  morn- 
ing. I  bad  pictured  you  as  lying  there  waiting,  full 
another  week.  Whereas  Please  God  you  will  now 
come  up  with  a  wet  sheet  and  a  flowing  sail, — as  we 
say  in  these  parts. 

My  expectations  of  "  Mrs.  Lirriper's  "  sale,  are  not  so 
mighty  as  yours.  But  I  am  heartily  glad  and  grateful 
to  be  honestly  able  to  believe  that  she  is  nothing  but 
a  good  'un.  It  is  the  condensation  of  a  quantity  of 
subject  and  the  very  greatest  pains. 

George  Russell  knew  nothing  whatever  of  the 
slightest  doubt  of  your  being  elected  at  The  Garrick. 
Eely  on  my  probing  the  matter  to  the  bottom,  and 
ascertaining  everything  about  it,  and  giving  you  the 
fullest  information  in  ample  time  to  decide  what  shall 
be  done.  Don't  bother  yourself  about  it.  I  have 
spoken.     On  my  eyes  be  it. 

Wilkie  sends  kindest  regard.  Ditto  Georgina.  Mrs. 
Wills  included  in  all  remembrances.* 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Affectionately  yours, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EoCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Wednesday,  Thirtieth  November,  1864. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  found  the  beautiful  and 
perfect   broughamt  awaiting   me  in  triumph  at  the 

*  This  letter  is  printed  in  "  Letters,"  III.,  218,  but  in  place  of  the  last 
parasjraph  it  has  a  paragraph  transferred  from  a  letter  of  April  2nd,  18t>4. 
j-  A  present  from  Wills. 

z  2 


340  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1864 

station  when  I  came  down  yesterday  afternoon ; 
Georgina  and  Marsh  both  highly  mortified  that  it  had 
fallen  dark,  and  the  beauties  of  the  carriage  were 
obscured.  But  of  course  I  had  it  out  in  the  yard  the 
first  thing  this  morning,  and  got  in  and  out  at  both 
doors,  and  let  down  and  pulled  up  the  windows,  and 
checked  an  imaginary  coachman,  and  leaned  back  in 
a  state  of  placid  contemplation. 

It  is  the  lightest  and  prettiest  and  best  carriage  of 
the  class,  ever  made.  But  you  know  that  I  value  it 
for  higher  reasons  than  these.  It  will  always  be  dear 
to  me — far  dearer  than  anything  on  wheels  could  ever 
be  for  its  own  sake — as  a  proof  of  your  ever  generous 
friendship  and  appreciation,  and  a  memorial  of  a 
happy  intercourse  and  a  perfect  confidence  that  have 
never  had  a  break,  and  that  surely  never  can  have 
any  break  now  (after  all  these  years)  but  one. 

Ever  your  faithful, 

Charles  Dickens. 


1865. 

Dickens  was  in  London  from  March  to  the  end  of 
May,  when  ho  went  to  France  for  a  short  holiday. 
On  his  way  home,  on  June  9th,  he  was  in  the  railway 
accident  at  Staplehurst.  He  refers  to  this  in  the 
letter  of  June  13th.  At  the  end  of  August  he  took 
another  ti'ip  to  France. 

During  a  great  part  of  the  year  he  was  working  at 
"  Our  Mutual  Friend,"  the  last  number  of  which  was 
issued  in  November.  The  Christmas  number  of  All 
the  Year  Bound  was  "  Dr.  Marigold's  Prescriptions," 
Dickens  contributing  to  it  three  portions  and  part  of 
another. 

The  letter  of   March    17th  refers  to  Wills's  non- 


1865]  CHURCH   ARTICLES.  341 

election  to  the  Garrick  Club.  He  had  been  proposed 
by  Dickens  and  seconded  by  Wilkie  Collins.  On 
AYills's  rejection  they  both  resigned  membership  of 
the  club,  and  were  followed  by  Fechter,  the  actor. 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Twenty-ninth  January ,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Birtles  is  too  cavalier  in  his 
posting  of  the  proofs.  To  send  them  to  me  on  a 
Sunday  morning,  when  you  want  them  posted  back 
on  Sunday  night,  and  when  our  post  goes  out  at  noon, 
is  something  like  impertinence.  Not  to  mention  our 
being  snowed  up. 

I  am  excessively  doubtful  about  Yauxhall  Illumina- 
tions.* It  is  fully  as  long  again  as  it  ought  to  be. 
However  estimable  these  Clergymen  are,  it  is  quite 
out  of  the  question  for  us  to  go  on  spinning  out  dry 
catalogues  of  what  they  do.  I  have  as  much  real 
interest  in  such  deeds  as  anyone  can  have,  I  think  ; 
but  my  soul  is  weary  of  this  sort  of  paper.  Ever  the 
same,  ever  the  same.  Paganini's  one  string,  and  no 
Paganini.  From  the  time  when  we  did  "  What  a 
London  Curate  Can  Do  if  He  Tries,"  it  is  but  one 
perpetual  drowsy  repetition,  generally  with  anything 
good  in  the  original  treatment  left  out.  Pray  hold 
this  paper  over,  and  remind  Morley  of  the  great 
number  of  similar  papers  that  we  have  had,  and  the 
necessity,  if  they  be  still  pursued,  of  more  grace  of 
handling  and  less  statement  of  sums  of  money,  and 
what  an  income  was  and  is  at  a  dozen  periods,  and 

*  "  Through  Lambeth  to  Vauxhall,"  an  account  of  the  district  and  of 
Church  work  in  it  appeared  in  Alt  l/ie  Year  Jiuu/id,  April  I5th,  1«G5. 


342  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOE.  [1865 

what  is  wanted  for  a  Church  Tower,  and  what  was 
got  from  this  Church  Aid  Society,  and  what  from  the 
other.  All,  like  a  Tract,  like  the  Saturday  Magazine, 
like  speeches  at  Exeter  Hall,  like  the  Ecclesiastical- 
Tackle  Shops  in  Southampton  Street,  like  Mrs.  Brown. 

If  you  are  so  driven  for  matter  as  that  you  want 
this  paper  in  a  sort  of  famine,  then  please  re-read  it 
with  an  eye  to  my  objections,  and  put  the  whole  of 
the  second  slip  and  half  the  third  into  a  column. 

I  will  order  dinner  at  5  on  Tuesday. 

Never  have  I  seen  such  a  thing  as  the  cutting  from 
the  Sheffield  paper ! 

Ever, 
CD. 

Gad's  Hill, 

Sunday,  Twelfth  February,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Miss  Power's  little  story  is  so 
much  more  meritorious  than  anything  else  in  the 
No.  that  I  propose  to  alter  the  No.  as  I  have  marked 
on  your  making  up.  But  as  that  will  probably  not 
be  matter  enough,  you  can  substitute  "The  Danes" 
for  "Coaching."  I  think  highly  of  Miss  Power's 
story.* 

Bowring  scrambles  in  the  strangest  way.  I  will 
try  to  put  the  paper  together  in  some  endurable 
maimer,  at  the  office  on  Tuesday  morning. 

I  am  exceedingly  doubtful  about  Edmund's  paper 
on  the  Crystal  Palace.  It  is  so  mechanically  done, 
and  in  the  old  Household  Words  days  we  did  that  class 
of  papers  so  well  (when  you  and  I  did  them,  and 

*  "The  Danes  at  Home,  by  a  Frenchman  Abroad "  appeared  in  All  th^ 
Year  llound,  February  25th,  1865.  The  only  "  story  "  in  this  number  is 
"  In  the  Untrodden  Ways."    "  Coaching  "  appeared  in  the  next  number. 


1865]  THE  GARRICK  CLUB.  343 

when  Home  did  them),  that  I  think  it  suggests  to 
our  public,  falling  off.  I  wish  you  would  tell  this  to 
Edmund  when  you  see  him,  and  say  that  unless  that 
sort  of  article  has  some  fancy  and  literary  merit,  I  am 
against  it. 

To  Halliday's  *' Poetry  of  the  Pantomimes"--  No. 
Pay  him  for  it,  of  course.  But  the  game  is  really  not 
worth  the  candle.  If  the  East  end  pai*t  of  it  could  be 
quite  separated,  by  himself,  from  the  rest,  it  might 
just  possibly  be  worth  using.  I  have  an  idea, 
however,  that  it  would  spoil  an  excellent  subject  for 
me  a  year  hence.     On  the  whole  therefore,  distribute  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 


16,  SoMERs  Place,  Hyde  Park,  W., 

Friday,  Seventeenth  March,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  ought  to  know  that 
Pechter  has  done  a  very  manly  thing  in  a  very 
delicate  way. 

I  discovered  last  night,  quite  incidentally,  that  he 
heard  of  your  being  blackballed  and  of  my  having 
resigned  with  Wilkie,  a  week  ago.  He  instantly  sent 
in  his  resignation.  It  caused  some  consternation  in 
the  Club,  and  Palgrave  Simpson  was  deputed  to  ask 
him  what  his  offence  was.  He  requested  Simpson  to 
reply  for  him  that  he  resigned  "because  they  had 
blackballed  Mr.  Wills,  and  he  would  trust  himself  to 
no  community  of  men  in  which  such  things  were 
done." 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD, 


344  CHARLES  DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1865 

16,  SoMERS  Place. 

Siindaij,  Tiventij -sixth  March,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  rather  at  sea  about  the 
'No.  because  I  only  assume  that  you  propose  to  put  in 
half  of  the  "Lottery  Dreamer,"*  and  because  the 
printers  have  (of  course)  not  put  the  quantity  on  your 
"Forty  Years  in  London  "f — which  is  very  good 
indeed. 

But  such  a  list  as  the  enclosed  is  the  best.  "  My 
Idea"t  could  come  out,  if  there  were  not  room.  Or, 
"  The  Lottery  Dreamer  "  could  be  cut  anywhere  to 
make  room. 

I  return  all  the  proofs  corrected.  You  will  see  that 
I  have  taken  a  quantity  out  of  "  Talk. "J 

In  your  "  Forty  Years,"  you  have  got  the  maiden 
name  of  Mrs.  Kelly  wrong.  I  have  put  it  right.  If 
you  refer  to  Gale  Jones,  he  kept  a  little  chemist's 
shop,  and  sold  Ginger  Beer  Powders,  then  rather  a 
crack  sort  of  novelty.  The  shop  was  very  like  the 
apothecary's  in  "  Pomeo  and  Juliet,"  and  (I  suppose 
in  consequence  of  the  masters  being  politically 
occupied)  always  had  the  door  locked.  An  old 
woman  appeared  on  a  bell  being  rung,  and  if  you 
wanted  Ginger  Beer  Powders,  and  could  point  them 
out  in  the  window,  and  didn't  want  change,  she 
would  sometimes  sell  them.  He  was  a  lean,  polite, 
inoffensive,  much-enduring  Padical  of  the  peacefullest 
sort.  Ever  yours, 

CD. 

P.S.  I  hope  to  get  away  on  Friday  or  Saturday, 
and  should  like  to  see  you  before  I  go.    Shall  we  dine 

*  All  the  Year  Rmind,  April  8th,  15th  and  22nd. 
t  All  the  Year  Jfouud,  April  8th. 
i  All  tlie  Year  Round,  April  15th. 


1865]  THE   STAPLEHURST  ACCIDENT.  345 

at  the  office,  Wednesday  or  Thursday  ?    If  so,  appoint 
day  and  hour. 

P.P.S.  You  anticipated  me  ahout  the  '34  Port.  I 
had  put  aside  a  dozen  to  ask  you  to  put  in  your  cellar. 
It  is  on  its  way  from  Gad's — much  shaken,  of  course. 
Keep  the  bottles  lying  down ;  but  stand  one  up  for  3 
or  4  days  before  using.  Decant  with  great  care 
through  a  strainer,  and  a  quantity  of  crust  and  bee's 
wing  will  remain  in  the  bottle.  I  am  assured  that 
the  wine  is  unapproachable. 

16,  SoMERS  Place, 

Ttventy -second  April,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Cheque  enclosed,  with  thanks. 

You  want  to  bid  for  something  at  poor  Leech's 
sale.*  I  ditto.  Forster  (as  he  writes  to  me  from 
Bath  this  morning)  ditto.  Let  us  three  go  into  one 
boat,  and  charter  Schloss  accordingly.  I  take  it  we 
each  want  a  good  pencil  or  water  colour  drawing. 
What  maximum  shall  we  go  to  ?  Twenty  pounds, 
Thirty  pounds,  what  ?  If  you  will  settle  that,  accord- 
ing to  your  lights  on  the  subject  rely  (in  this  as  in  all 
other  matters)  on  the  staunchness  of  the  undersigned. 

CD. 

Tell  Mrs.  Wills  that  I  have  undergone  great 
unhappiness  on  the  subject  of  the  Port,  but  am 
more  cheerful — as  I  hope  she  is. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 
Tuesday,  Thirteenth  June,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  feel  it  rather  more  in  my 
head   to-day  than  I  have  done  yet.     Quiet   is   the 

*  John  Leech,  the  Punch  artist,  a  great  friend  of  Dickens,  had  died  on 
October  29th  of  the  previous  year. 


346  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1865 

main  thing.     I  write  two  or  three  notes  and  turn 
faint  and  sick.* 

Ever  heartily, 

CD. 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY    KOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Sunday  Night,  Tiventy-sevenih  August,  1865. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — No  news, — except  that  I  am 
working  like  a  Dragon, f  and  that  1  hope  something 
near  a  week  may  bring  me  through  it.  In  the  course 
of  this  next  week,  I  will  appoint  a  day  (probably 
Monday,  4th  September,  or  Tuesday,  5th)  for  our 
Meeting  at  the  office,  before  I  decamp  for  about  one 
fortnight.  But  observe.  If  you  should  want  to  go 
away  before  either  of  those  days,  then  try  to  come 
down  here  on  a  little  visit,  and  we  will  Do,  after 
my  day's  work,  what  we  may  have  to  do. 

I  am  already  buckling  myself  up  for  A.  Y.  E. 

Enclosed  is  the  MS.  story  that  I  did  not  send  the 
other  day. 

Ever, 
C.  D. 

Mary  Boyle's  "Madeira  "J  may  go;  it  must  be 
throughout  either  "  I  "  or  "  We."  And  the  Fortnightly 
needn't  be  called  "  one  of  our  leading  Reviews  "  but 
one  of  the  Reviews. ^^ 


*  Dickens  waa  a  passenger  in  the  train  which  was  wrecked  at  Staplehurst 
on  June  9lh.  He  escaped  without  injury,  and  displayed  great  presence  of 
mind  and  energy  in  rescue-work. 

t  At  "  Our  Mutual  Friend,"  the  last  number  of  which  appeared  in  November 
of  this  year. 

I  "Will  You  Take  Madeira,"  All  the  Year  Bound,  Scpt^mbor  16th. 
It  was  "  I," 


1866]  READINGS.  347 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 
Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Thursday,  Twenty -eighth  December,  1865. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — I  am  very  sorry  indeed 
to  receive  this  poor  account  of  Wills,  and  am  truly 
grieved  to  know  that  he  is  again  enduring  pain. 

Will  you  kindly  tell  him  with  my  love,  that  when 
I  have  made  up  the  ISTo.  at  the  office  tomorrow,  I 
shall  come  to  Eegents  Park  Terrace  to  enquire  about 
him  of  you.  But  pray  add  that  I  shall  not  in  the 
least  expect  or  want  to  see  him,  if  he  prefer  (as  he 
very  likely  will)  to  remain  undisturbed.  Do  impress 
this  upon  him,  as  being  sincerely  meant. 

Faithfully  yours  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 


1866. 

After  some  negotiations  Dickens  came  to  an  agree- 
ment with  Messrs.  Chappell  for  a  series  of  readings 
in  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland.  I  gather  that 
Wills  went  with  him  during  part  of  the  time  (letter 
of  April  20th  to  Mrs.  Wills).  His  manager  during 
these  readings,  and  afterwards  in  America,  was 
Mr.  George  Dolby. 

OFFICE   OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 

Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Monday,  Fifteenth  January,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Coming  here  this  afternoon, 
and  finding  your  letter  dated  yesterday,   I  suppose 


348  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1866 

the  railroads  to  have  recovered,  and  the  British  Post 
to  have  asserted  itself  triumphantly. 

As  soon  as  I  read  yours,  I  sent  for  Birtles  and 
the  making  up.  The  latter  was  all  right  and  even 
(wonderful  to  relate  !)  and  stood  in  no  need  of  change 
whatever.  Sala  has  sent  a  paper  on  the  Havannah,* 
which  has  duly  gone  to  Beaufort  House  f  the  Sprightly. 
All  things  else,  official,  are  in  statu  quo. 

In  the  matter  of  Beale,  it  occurs  to  me  that  he  may, 
perhaps,  ask  for  30  readings  instead  of  25.  I  should 
not  be  indisposed  (for  I  should  not  think  it  unfair)  to 
let  him  have  30  for  2,000  Guineas.  Perhaps  he  may 
not  come  near  the  mark  at  all.  In  such  case  I  think 
I  will  resolve  to  keep  quiet  and  not  read  at  all. 

I  send  my  kindest  regard  to  Miss  Coutts  and 
am  ever. 

Heartily  yours, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY    EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Sunday,  Twenty -eighth  January,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — After  we  parted  yesterday  I 
chance-lighted  on  the  information  that  Mitchell, 
having  of  yore  burnt  his  fingers  a  good  deal, 
speculates  very  little  now,  yet  likes  to  be  con- 
sidered as  doing  much  in  that  way. 

This  is  worth  bearing  in  mind.  Also,  that  he  may 
have  some  dread  of  giving  offence  to  Fanny  Kemble. 

Proceeding  on  your  own  judgment  and  observation, 
of  course  you  will  more  than  satisfy  me.     I  suggest 

*  Probably  "  The  Humours  of  Havana,"  All  t/ie  Year  Round,  February 
UOth. 

t  Beaufort  House,  Strand,  the  printing  office  of  All  the  Year  Hound. 


1866]         NEGOTIATIONS  ABOUT  READINGS.  349 

that  perhaps  it  would  be  best  to  keep  our  figures 
back, — always,  if  you  approve.  I  would  take  up  the 
ground  thus  :  There  is  Mr.  Dickens,  whose  position 
you  understand  probably  at  least  as  well  as  I  do, 
constantly  entreated  to  read,  and  proposed  to  in  all 
manner  of  ways.  He  is  enough  at  leisure  to  under- 
take in  town  and  country  (suggesting  the  country 
places)  30  readings,  or  20,  or  15.  The  business  of 
such  things  is  not  in  our  way  since  the  death  of 
Mr.  Arthur  Smith.  He  is  willing  to  undertake  them 
for  a  sum  of  money.  Are  you  willing  to  enter  into  a 
negotiation  with  me  for  buying  him  ? 

Questions  of  detail  to  be  agreed  upon,  if  terms 
agreed  upon.  They  are  chiefly,  avoidance  of  morning 
readings  as  much  as  possible,  both  as  distasteful  to 
me,  and  as  not  addressing  my  large  miscellaneous 
following,  which  is  limited  to  no  class — limitation 
of  country  places  to  those  first-class  ones  which  I 
have  proved  to  be  the  best  for  me — and  agreement 
beforehand,  between  us,  on  the  rooms  to  be  engaged, 
according  as  I  have  also  proved  them. 

I  would  lead  him  to  an  offer,  if  he  should  be 
disposed  to  make  one ;  but  I  would  throw  the  terms 
of  it,  in  money,  upon  him. 

Ever  faithfully, 
CD. 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

Edinburgh, 

Friday  J  Twentieth  April,  18GG. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills: — As  a  reminder  of  my 
having  deprived  you  of  your  husband  (not  that  you 
are  likely  to  need  any  !)  I  bring  you  from  Edinburgh 


350  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [18G6 

a  shepherd's  plaid  silk  dress,  which  I  shall  entrust  to 
his  care.  When  you  wear  it,  forgive  me  as  nearly  as 
you  can. 

There  are  20  yards  of  the  dress,  in  order  that  there 
may  be  something  in  the  nature  of  a  jacket  superadded. 
At  least,  I  believe  that  is  the  intention,  but  your 
excellent  housewifery  will  know  all  about  it. 

Faithfully  yours  ever, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EoCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Mondmj,  Thirtieth  July,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Forster,  being  here  yesterday, 
asked  me  what  there  was  amiss  between  him  and  you  ? 
I  said  that  I  did  not  know  from  you  that  anything  was 
amiss.  He  rejoined  that  he  had  made  such  and  such 
approaches  to  you,  which  you  had  avoided,  and  that 
if  there  were  something  wrong  between  you,  it  was 
quite  unconsciously  on  his  part.  I  repeated  what  I 
had  already  said.  He  then  asked  me  if  I  would  let 
you  know  that  he  had  spoken  to  me  ?  I  replied,  Most 
willingly.     Hence  this  note. 

I  shall  look  in  at  the  office  at  one  on  Wednesday 
(in  case  any  Writer  of  transcendent  genius  should  have 
turned  up  since  Saturday). 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EoCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Tuesday,  Eleventh  August,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many  thanks  for  the  informa- 
tion concerning  that  loose  fish.     Ouvry  held  it  best  to 


1866]  "THE   BOY  AT  MUG  BY."  351 

wait  until  the  half  year's  accounts  come  in  next  month, 
before  taking  action.  I  think  he  must  already  have 
paid  the  balance  due  upon  them,  if  not  more.  He  has 
been  paying  £300  per  month  on  account,  since  the  last 
settlement. 

The  picture  of  the  Tinsley  fete,  magnificent ! 

I  don't  think  I  shall  come  to  town  (there  being 
things  to  look  after  here)  until  Thursday  ;  but  I  may, 
if  I  can  get  away,  look  in  at  the  office  to-morrow 
evening.  Will  you  leave  the  proofs  for  me  ?  If  I 
come  on  Thursday,  it  will  be  soon  after  11  a.m.  to 
remain  until  after  lunch. 

The  Xmas  No.  continues  to  reside  in  the  Limbo 
of  the  Unborn — as  Tinsley's  friend  Tom  Carlyle  would 
say.* 

Ever, 
CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Tiventy-first  October ,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  mislaid  the  proof  of  the 
Xmas  No.  advertisement.  But  it  was  wrong,  I 
remember.  The  important  word  "  stories  "  was  omitted 
altogether.  Let  it  stand  in  this  way — "  will  continue, 
in  addition  to  other  stories  to  be  announced  shortly  "  and 
then  my  list. 

I  read  "  The  Boy  "t  to  Miss  Boyle,  my  two  girls, 
and  Georgina,  last  night,  with  such  extraordinary 
peals  and  tears    of  laughter,  that  I  think  I  foresee 

*  It  was  born  as  "  Mugby  Junction."  Dickens  contributed  four  parts  to  it. 
Some  2()5,000  copies  of  it  were  sold  (see  letter  of  January  24th,  18G7,  post). 

f  "  The  Boy  at  Mugby,"  one  of  the  four  parts  written  by  Dickens  for  the 
Christmas  number,  "Mugby  Junction." 


352  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [186G 

a  great  success.     I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  people  laugh 
so  much  under  the  prosiest  of  circumstances. 

Mr.  Horace  Wigan  so  presses  me  about  Wilkie's 
play,*  that  I  must  come  up  on  Tuesday,  and  go  to 
rehearsal  at  12.  I  will  call  at  the  office  about  J 
past  11,  in  case  you  would  care  to  go  with  me.  Will 
you  tell  Birtles  to  have  two  things  ready  for  me.  First, 
the  exact  cast-off  in  pages  of  what  I  have  done  for 
Xmas  No.  Second,  a  complete  proof  of  ' '  Katchen's 
Caprices,  "t 

Many  thanks  for  the  Ouvry  and  Farrer  report.  It 
will  not  do  to  bear  this  kind  of  insolence,  as  a  conse- 
quence of  a  perfectly  independent  and  moderate  piece 
of  criticism.  He  must  apologise  in  the  papers,  or  we 
positively  must  go  on  with  our  action  for  libel.  It  is 
nothing  to  say  that  the  man  is  insignificant.  The 
precedent  is  dangerous  and  compromising.  I  wish 
you  would  impress  this  on  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields. 

The  secret  concerning  our  Vestiges  friend  remains 
a  secret.  J 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Tuesday,  Thirteenth  November ,  1866. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  curious  I  should  not  have 
noticed  that  mistake.  The  substitution  of  "  today  " 
for  "  yesterday  "  makes  all  right.  I  have  sent  the 
correction  to  Birtles  in  a  parcel. 

*  "  Armadale." 

■f  All  the  Year  Round,  November  2tth. 

I  Probably  an  allusion  to  the  approaching  second  marriage  of  Robert 
Chambers,  Wills's  brother-in-law.  In  an  introduction  to  the  12th  e<lition 
of  the  "  Vestiges  of  Creation,"  published  in  1884,  Alexander  Ireland  has 
explained  how  Robert  Chambers  wrote  the  book  and  how  and  why  the 
i><ime  of  the  author  was  concealed. 


1807]        A  "TATTOO'D   STARING  MONSTER."  353 

Ellen*  has  been  here.  She  has  "  very  nice  furni- 
ture," she  says,  for  her  own  rooms.  I  told  her  that 
she  would  find  the  Kitchen  furnished  for  her.  I  think 
it  better  not  to  summon  her  before  Saturday.  I  will 
be  at  the  ofHce  that  day,  to  make  it  easier  for  her. 
Let  us  make  up  the  'No.  at  the  same  time.  There  is 
not  a  doubt,  I  hope,  of  her  being  exactly  the  person 
we  want. 

Tomorrow  (Wednesday)  I  am  due  at  the  office  at 
half  past  eleven,  and  am  to  sit  to  Mason  in  Bond  Street 
(for  some  tattoo'd  staring  monster  to  be  displayed  in 
the  Paris  Exhibition)  at  12.  At  1, 1  go  with  Chappell 
to  explain  a  notion  I  have  for  improving  the  acoustics 
of  St.  James's  Hall.  After  that,  I  shall  look  in  at  the 
office  again. 

Tell  Miss  Coutts  with  my  kindest  regards  and 
remembrance,  that  I  shall  be  delighted  to  try  my  hand 
promptl}^  at  the  inscription. 

What  do  you  mean  by  this  passage  in  one  of  your 
notes  received  this  morning  ?  "I  sent  a  despatch  last 
night,  one  Xmas  No."  Do  you  mean  sent  it  to  me? 
I  have  never  had  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


1867. 

Dickens  continued  his  English  reading  tour  during 
the  early  part  of  the  year.  Proposals  more  and  more 
tempting  from  a  pecuniary  point  of  view  were  now 
made  to  him  for  a  tour  in  America,  and  it  is  evident 

*  Tliu  sorvaat  eni^agod  to  look  after  the  rooms  at  the  otfice, 
D.E.  A    A 


354  CHARLES   DICKENS   AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

that  before  the  year  was  half  through  his  mind  had 
become  engrossed  by  the  idea.  In  answer  to  "Wills's 
strong  remonstrance  he  wrote  the  letter  of  June  6th, 
setting  out  the  reasons  that  moved  him  to  undertake 
such  a  venture.  Dolby  was  sent  out  to  make  prelimi- 
nary enquiries.  His  report  was  favourable,  and  on 
September  30th  Dickens  made  up  his  mind  and 
telegraphed  his  acceptance  to  America. 

On  Saturday,  November  2nd,  Dickens  was  enter- 
tained by  his  friends  at  a  farewell  dinner  at  the  Free- 
masons' Tavern.  A  week  afterwards  he  sailed,  and 
landed  in  Boston,  after  an  unadventurous  voyage,  on 
Tuesday,  November  19th. 

In  ''Letters,"  II.,  301,  there  is  published  a  letter 
from  Dickens  to  Wills,  which  I  cannot  find  in  my 
collection.  It  was  written  on  the  morning  after  the 
dinner  at  the  Freemasons'  Tavern,  and  throws  so 
pleasant  a  light  on  the  relations  between  the  two 
men  that  I  venture  to  transcribe  it  here  : — 


26,  Wellington  Stbeet, 

Sunday,  November  Srdy  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — If  you  were  to  write  me  many 
such  warm-hearted  letters  as  you  sent  this  morning,  my 
heart  would  fail  me  !  There  is  nothing  that  so  breaks 
down  my  determination,  or  shows  me  what  an  iron  force 
I  put  upon  myself,  and  how  weak  it  is,  as  a  touch  of 
true  affection  from  a  tried  friend. 

All  that  you  so  earnestly  say  about  the  goodwill  and 
devotion  of  all  engaged,  I  perceived  and  deeply  felt  last 
night.  It  moved  me  even  more  than  the  demonstration 
itself,  though  I  do  suppose  it  was  the  most  brilliant 
ever  seen.  When  I  got  up  to  speak,  but  for  taking  a 
desperate  hold  of  myself,  I  should  have  lost  my  sight 
and  voice  and  sat  down  again. 


1867]  "WHY    ISN'T    WILLS    HERE?"  355 

God  bless  you,  my  dear  fellow.     I  am  ever   and 
ever, 

Your  affectionate. 


Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 

Sunday f  Twentieth  January ,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  second  and  third  readings 
here  have  gone  with  such  wonderful  enthusiasm  and 
have  so  astonished  the  natives,  that  we  are  coming 
back  here  for  two  more  in  the  middle  of  next  month. 
The  weather  continues  so  severe,  and  the  suburban 
roads  are  so  heavy,  that  we  feel  it  in  the  stalls,  but 
the  half-crowns  and  ones  (who  don't  come  in  from 
distances,  with  horses)  crowd  their  places  splendidly. 

"We  have  been  over  to  Eock  Ferry  today,  to  see 
the  Great  Eastern  lying  high  and  dry  there  for 
repairs.  She  looks  hideous,  and  (strange  to  say)  not 
very  big,  so  situated  !  A  very  large  and  strong  pack 
of  Ice  is  on  that  side  of  the  river,  and  the  general 
appearance  of  things  is  Arctic. 

Will  you  kindly  read  the  enclosed  letter?  Is  it 
hopeless  ?  Or  can  any  reasonable  thing  be  done  ?  I 
am  afraid  it  is  a  weary  and  intangible  case. 

Dolby  is  always  talking  about  you,  and  said  to  me 
on  Friday  night  (when  I  did  exactly  one  million  one 
hundred  thousand  and  one  newthings  with  ''  Marigold," 
which  the  audience  seized  each  with  exactly  one 
million  one  hundred  thousand  and  one  rounds),  "  Why 
isn't  Wills  here?"  I  told  him  he  reminded  mo  of 
Collingwood  and  Nelson.  In  terms  disrespectful  to 
both  of  those  great  English  Worthies,  he  rejoined  : 
"  Neither  of  them  was  Wills,  and  I  want  Wills  I  " 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

A    A    2 


356  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G7 

Hen  and  Chickens,  Birmingham, 

Thursday,  Tiventy- fourth  January,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — We  shall  evidently  sell  our 
265,000.*  Expect  me  at  the  office  on  Monday  after- 
noon, say  at  4  o'clock.     Also  on  Tuesday. 

We  have  been  reading  in  snow-storms,  and  down- 
pourings  of  sheets  of  solid  ice.  At  Chester  it  was 
such  a  night  as  one  sees  once  in  half  a  century. 
Nevertheless  we  had  close  upon  £70,  and  the  people 
were  enchanted.  Last  night  at  Wolverhampton  the 
thaw  had  set  in  thoroughly,  and  it  rained  heavily. 
There  we  had  close  upon  <£80.  The  Mersey  was  like 
the  Channel  on  a  bad  day,  between  England  and 
France,  when  we  came  across.  The  cold  was 
stupendous.  To-day  is  pleasant  here,  and  quite 
warm.  I  have  been  fainter  of  a  night,  after  leaving 
off,  than  I  like.     This,  on  two  occasions. 

The  Ci-devant  Miss  Marryat's  letter,  I  shall  not 
answer.  Concerning  the  letter  of  the  lady  who 
referred  to  Halliday,  what  is  to  be  done  ?  I  am  very 
much  afraid,  from  its  terms,  that  it  is  quite  beyond 
my  reasonable  reach.  Would  you  mind  writing  to 
her  ivith  that  express  caution,  and  telling  her  that  you 
will  see  her  at  the  office  at  such  or  such  a  time  ? 

Dolby's  legs  stand  as  they  did.  His  right  eye 
becomes  inflamed  of  a  morning,  only  when  he  goes 
out,  after  I  go  to  bed,  to  treat  the  local  agent.  He 
appeared  at  breakfast  one  morning  at  Liverpool,  with 
three  glasses  of  gin  and  water  and  two  cigars  distinctly 
to  be  seen  under  his  right  eye-lid.  Our  pervading 
joke  is  "  Schloss's  Solicitor."     We  recognize  him  in 

*  Of  "Mu^by  Junction,"  the  Christmas  numlM-r  of  All  the  Year  Bound 
(see  "  Letters,"  II.,  265). 


1867]  WILLS'S    OBJECTIONS.  357 

all  sorts  of  shabby   genteel   people  at   stations   and 
elsewhere.     This  mild  recreation  keeps  us  going. 

Ever  faithfully, 
(!.  D. 

[At  the  top  of  the  following  letter  Wills  has  written 
in  pencil : — "  This  letter,  so  illustrative  of  one  of  the 
strong  sides  of  C.  D.'s  character — powerful  will — -I 
think  ought  decidedly  to  be  published  in  justice  to 
Forster  and  myself,  who  dissuaded  him  from  America 
— which  killed  him  eventually. — W.  H.  W."] 

Thursday,  Sixth  June,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  cannot  tell  you  how  warmly 
I  feel  your  letter,  or  how  deeply  I  appreciate  the 
affection  and  regard  in  which  it  originates.  I  thank 
you  for  it  with  all  my  heart. 

You  will  not  suppose  that  1  make  light  of  any  of 
your  misgivings  if  I  present  the  other  side  of  the 
question.  Every  objection  that  you  make,  strongly 
impresses  me,  and  will  be  revolved  in  my  mind  again 
and  again. 

When  I  went  to  America  in  '42,  I  was  so  much 
younger,  but  (I  think)  very  much  weaker,  too.  I  had 
had  a  painful  surgical  operation  performed,  shortly 
before  going  out,  and  had  had  the  labour  from  week 
to  week  of  "Master  Humphrey's  Clock."  My  life  in  the 
States  was  a  life  of  continual  speech-making  (qiiite  as 
laborious  as  Eeading),  and  I  was  less  patient  and 
more  irritable  then,  than  I  am  now.  My  idea  of  a 
course  of  Eeadings  in  America,  is,  that  it  would  involve 
far  less  travelling  than  you  suppose — that  the  large 
first  class  towns  would  absorb  the  whole  course — and 
that  the  receipts  would  be  very  much  larger   than 


358  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

your  Estimate.  Unless  the  demand  for  the  Readings 
is  enormously  exaggerated  on  all  hands,  there  is  consider- 
able reason  for  this  view  of  the  case.  And  I  can 
hardly  think  that  all  the  Speculators  who  beset  me, 
and  all  the  private  correspondents  who  urge  me,  are  in 
a  conspiracy  or  under  a  common  delusion. 

I  also  believe  that  an  immense  impulse  would  be 
given  to  the  C.  D.  Edition  by  my  going  out. 

If  you  were  to  work  out  the  question  of  Reading 
profits  here,  with  Dolby,  you  would  find  that  it  would 
take  years  to  get  .£10,000.*  To  get  that  sum  in 
a  heap  so  soon  is  an  immense  consideration  to  me. 

I  shall  never  rest  much  while  my  faculties  last,  and 
(if  I  know  myself)  have  a  certain  something  in  me  that 
would  still  be  active  in  rusting  and  corroding  me,  if  I 
flattered  myself  that  it  was  in  repose.  On  the  other 
hand,  I  think  that  my  habit  of  easy  self-abstraction 
and  withdrawal  into  fancies,  has  always  refreshed  and 
strengthened  me  in  short  intervals  wonderfully.  I 
always  seem  to  myself  to  have  rested  far  more  than  I 
have  worked,  and  I  do  really  believe  that  I  have  some 
exceptional  faculty  of  accumulating  young  feelings  in 
short  pauses,  which  obliterates  a  quantity  of  wear  and 
tear. 

My  worldly  circumstances  (such  a  family  considered) 
are  very  good.  I  don't  want  money.  All  my  posses- 
sions are  free,  and  in  the  best  order.  Still,  at  55  or 
56,  the  likelihood  of  making  a  very  great  addition  to 
one's  capital  in  half  a  year,  is  an  immense  considera- 
tion. I  repeat  the  phrase  because  there  should  be 
something  large,  to  set  against  the  objections. 

I  dine  with  Forster  today  to  talk  it  over.     I  have 

*  His  profit  in  America  was  eventually  within  a  hundred  or  so  of 
£20,000  ("  Life,"  III.,  410). 


1867]    "GEORGE    SILVERMAN'S    EXPLANATION."   359 

no  doubt  he  will  urge  most  of  your  objections,  and 
particularly  the  last — though  American  friends  and 
correspondents  he  has,  have  undoubtedly  staggered 
him  more  than  I  ever  knew  him  to  be  staggered,  on 
the  money  question.  Be  assured  that  no  one  can 
present  any  argument  to  me,  which  will  weigh  more 
heavily  with  me  than  your  kind  words,  and  that, 
whatever  comes  of  my  present  state  of  abeyance,  I 
shall  never  forget  your  letter  or  cease  to  be  grateful 
for  it. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Faithfully, 

CD. 


[In  "  Letters  "  II.,  295,  the  second  paragraph  of  the 
following  letter  is  printed  as  the  concluding  paragraph 
of  a  letter  of  September  2nd.] 

OFFICE   OF  ALL  THE   YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  by  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 

Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Friday,  Twenty-eighth  June,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills: — No  doubt  "  Eliza  Fenning"  *  will 
come  down  to  Gad's.  I  will  return  her  by  post  to 
you.  I  did  not  mean  to  negative  her.  Merely  raised 
my  eyebrows  at  a  subject  so  well  known. 

I  am  glad  you  see  a  certain  unlikeness  to  anything, 
in  the  American  storyt ;  and  I  hope  that  when  you 

*  This  appeared  in  All  the  Year  Rtmnd,  Jiilj  13th,  1867,  being  one  of  a 
series  of  papers  under  the  general  title  of  "  Old  Stories  llc-told,"  "written  by 
Walter  Thornbury.  Eliza  Fenniiig  was  executed  in  1815  for  poisoning  her 
employers.     Thornbury  argues  strongly  for  her  innocence. 

t  "George  Silverman's  Explanation,"  which,  together  with  -'A  Holiday 
Romance,"  Dickens  wrote  for  first  publication  in  America. 


3G0  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [18G7 

see  it  complete,  you  will  think  still  better  of  it.  Upon 
myself,  it  has  made  the  strangest  impression  of  reality 
and  originality  !  !  And  I  feel  as  if  I  had  read  some- 
thing (by  somebody  else)  which  I  should  never  get  out 
of  my  head  !  !  The  main  idea  of  the  narrator's  position 
towards  the  other  people,  was  the  idea  1  had  for  my 
next  novel  in  A.  Y.  B.  But  it  is  very  curious  that  I 
did  not  in  the  least  see  how  to  begin  his  state  of  mind, 
until  I  walked  into  Hoghton  Towers  one  bright  April 
day  with  Dolby. 

Faithfully  ever, 
C.  D. 

[The  following  letter  is  wrongly  dated  June  IJith  in 
"Letters,"  II., 292.  Parts  of  this  letter  only  are  there 
printed,  and  it  closes  Avith  a  paragraph  taken  from  a 
letter  of  August  3rd,  18G9.] 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  Rochester,  Kent, 
Sunday,  Thirtieth  June,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  heard  read  the  first 
3  Nos.  of  Wilkie's  story  *  this  morning,  and  have 
gone  minutely  through  the  plot  of  the  rest  to  the  last 
line.  Of  course  it  is  a  series  of  "  Narratives,"  and  of 
course  such  and  so  many  modes  of  action  are  open  to 
such  and  such  people  ;  but  it  is  a  very  curious  story 
— wild,  and  yet  domestic — with  excellent  character  in 
it,  great  mystery,  and  nothing  belonging  to  disguised 
women  or  the  like.  It  is  prepared  with  extraordinary 
care,  and  has  every  chance  of  being  a  hit.  It  is  in 
many  respects  much  better  than  anything  he  has  done. 

We   have   talked   over   the  time  of   beginning  to 

*  "The  Moonstone."     It  began  its  api>earance  in  All  tli4  Year  Rounds 
January  4tli,  I8G8. 


1867J  ELIZA    FENNING.  361 

piiblisli,  and  it  is  evidently  desirable  not  to  begin,  if 
we  can  possibly  help  it,  until  the  Xrnas  No.  is  out — 
say,  the  middle  of  December.  The  question  then  is, 
how  shall  we  fill  up  the  blank  between  "  Mabel  "  *  and 
Wilkie  ?  What  do  you  think  of  proposing  to  Fitz- 
gerald t  to  do  a  story  three  months  long  ?  I  dare  say 
he  has  some  unfinished  or  projected  something  by  him. 

I  have  an  impression  that  it  was  not  Silvester  who 
tri(!d  Eliza  Fenning,  J  but  Knowles  can  hardly  suppose 
Thornbury  to  make  such  a  mistake,  but  I  wish  you 
would  look  into  the  "Annual  Register."  I  have  added 
a  final  paragraph  about  the  unfairness  of  the  Judge, 
whoever  he  was.  I  distinctly  recollect  to  have  read 
of  his  "putting  down"  of  Eliza  Fenning's  father  when 
the  old  man  made  some  miserable  suggestion  in  his 
daughter's  behalf  (this  is  not  noticed  by  Thornbury), § 
and  he  also  stopped  some  suggestion  that  a  knife 
thrust  into  a  loaf  adulterated  with  alum,  would  present 
the  appearance  that  these  knives  presented.  But  I 
may  have  got  both  these  points  from  looking  up  some 
pamphlets  in  Upcott's  collection.      Which  I  once  did. 

If  you  would  not  object  to  take  my  packet  to 
Brown  and  Shipley's  on  Tuesday,  I  should  be  very 
much  obliged  to  you  if  you  would  do  so.  I  shall  be 
at  the  office  at  5  tomorrow  (Monday),  or  will  meet 
you  there  if  you  leave  a  note  to  me  to  that  effect,  at 
11  on  Tuesday.  I  have  told  Birtles  to  send  you 
complete  revise,  thinking  Mrs.  Wills  may  like  to 
see  it. 

Ever  faithfully, 

CD. 

*  "  Mabel's  Progress  "  ended  in  All  the  Year  Round,  November  2n(l,  1807. 

f  Mr.  Percy  Fitzgerald,  a  frequent  and  valued  contributor. 

j  She  was  tried  by  the  Recorder,  Silvester. 

§  This  is  in  the  paper  as  printed. 


362  CHAKLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM   BY   EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Monday,  Second  September,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Like  you,  I  was  shocked  when 
this  new  discovery  burst  upon  me  on  Friday — though, 

unlike  you,  I  never  could  believe  in solely  (I 

think)  because,  often  as  I  have  tried  him,  I  never 
found  him  standing  by  my  desk,  when  I  was  writing 
a  letter,  without  trying  to  read  it. 

I  fear  there  is  no  doubt  that,  since  John's  discharge, 

he  ( )  has  stolen  money  at  the  Eeadings.     A  case 

of  an  abstracted  shilling  seems  to  have  been  clearly 
brought  home  to  him  by  Chappell's  people,  and  they 
know  very  well  what  that  means.  I  supposed  a  very 
clear  keeping  off  from  Anne's  husband  (whom  I 
recommended  for  employment  to  Chappcll)  to  have 
been  referable  only  to  John ;  but  now  I  see  how 
hopeless  and  unjust  it  would  be  to  expect  belief  from 
him  with  two  such  cases  within  his  knowledge. 

But  don't  let  the  thing  spoil  your  holiday.  If  we 
try  to  do  our  duty  by  people  we  employ  ;  by  exacting 
their  proper  service  from  them  on  the  one  hand,  and 
treating  them  with  all  possible  consistency,  gentleness, 
and  consideration,  on  the  other ;  we  know  that  we  do 
right.  Their  doing  wrong  cannot  change  our  doing 
right,  and  that  should  be  enough  for  us. 

So  I  have  given  my  feathers  a  shake,  and  am  all 
right  again.  Give  your  feathers  a  shake,  and  take  a 
cheery  flutter  into  the  air  of  Hertfordshire. 

Great  reports  from  Dolby,*  and  also  from  Fields."!" 
But  I  keep  myself  quite  calm,  and  hold  my  decision  in 
abeyance,  until  I  shall  have  book,  chapter,  and  verse, 

*  Dolby  had  j^onc  to  America  to  investigate  matters  on  the  spot. 

t  Mr.  James  T.  Fields,  the  publisher,  of  Boston,  an  old  friend  of  Dickens. 


1867]  DICKENS'S    HEALTH.  363 

before  me.     Dolby  hoped  he  could  leave  Uncle  Sara 
on  the  11th  of  this  month. 

Sydney*  has  passed  as  a  Lieutenant  and  appeared 
at  home  yesterday,  all  of  a  sudden,  with  the  con- 
sequent golden  garniture  on  his  sleeve.  Which  I, 
God  forgive  me,  stared  at,  without  the  least  idea  that 
it  meant  promotion. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM    BY    EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Tuesday,  Third  September,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  glad  that  the  misconduct 
of  — —  has  given  us  the  opportunity  of  advancing 
people  whose  conduct  has  been  good.  May  we  have 
got  at  the  bottom  and  the  end  of  it  at  last ! 

So  overwhelmed  am  I  by  letters  concerning  this 
absurd  newspaper  paragraph  about  my  being  out  of 
health — which  has  now  swelled  out  into  my  being 
recommended  by  "  eminent  surgeons "  to  go  to 
America  for  "cessation  from  literary  labour  "(!)  that 
I  have  deemed  it  necessary  to  write  a  line  to  The 
Times.  I  have  also  written  to  the  Sunday  Gazette,  the 
of tenest-quoted  authority,  and  I  think  I  will  have  a  few 
words  ready  for  Thursday  to  go  in  before  "  Mabel. "f 

The  best  answer  to  your  U.S.  enquiry,  is  the 
enclosed  from  Fields  this  very  morning.  Preserve  it 
for  return,  please. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

♦  Dickens's  fifth  son.     He  died  at  sea  in  May,  1872. 
■j"  No  such  words  were  printed. 


364  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 


'J 


HiGHAM    BY    EOCHESTER,    KeNT, 

Tuesday,  Twenty-fourth  Septemher,  1867. 
My  J3ear  Wills  : — I  send  you,  enclosed,  a  plain 
statement  of  the  American  question,  deduced  from  a 
mass  of  notes  and  figures.     Give  me  your  opinion  on 
it.     To  go,  or  not  to  go  ? 

I  have  sent  it  to  Forster  in  exactly  the  same  way, 
with  exactly  the  same  request,  and  no  hint  of  my  own 
tending  either  way. 

On  Saturday  I  will  call  at  the  office  sometime  in 
the  day,  for  a  letter  from  you.  I  would  rather  make 
up  on  3Ionday  morning,  as  on  that  day  I  must  be  in 
town  to  send  off  the  decisive  Telegram  to  Boston. 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 

[I  cannot  find  the  draft  of  this  plain  statement ;  * 
but  there  is  in  Wills's  "Letter  Book  "  a  copy  of  a  letter 
written  by  him  in  answer  to  the  above,  under  date  Sep- 
tember 27th.  In  this  Wills  makes  another  strong  effort 
to  dissuade  Dickens  from  the  American  enterprise.  He 
argues  against  the  accuracy  of  Dickens's  figures,  warns 
him  that,  in  the  present  condition  of  American  feeling 
about  England,  he  may  not  be  so  well  received  as  he 
anticipates,  and  ends  thus: — "  Now  is  it  worth  ,£10,000 
to  face  such  a  state  of  things — although  they  may  be 
out  of  the  pale  of  possibility,  yet,  being  possible,  they 
have  to  be  dreaded.  Is  it  worth  £10,000  to  risk  not 
only  your  bodily  health  but  your  mental  comfort  in  a 
coimtry  where  success  will  be  a  penance ;  for  the 
more  excitement  you  occasion  the  more  you  will  be 
bored.  Is  it  worth  going  to  America  for  four  months 
when  you  can  ensure  in  double  the  time  quite  as  large 
a  sum  at  home.  However,  until  Monday,  when,  all 
well,  I  shall  meet  you  at  the  office."] 

♦  It  is  printed  in  "  Life,"  III.,  290,  note. 


18G7]  MEMORANDA.  365 

OFFICE  OF  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND. 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 
Saturday,  Twenty-eighth  September,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — There  are  two  respects  (worth 
mentioning  perhaps),  in  which  you  are  wrong.  1.  If 
I  were  to  go  to  America,  the  Eeading  months  would 
be  December,  January,  February,  March,  April — five 
in  all.  2.  Extra  payments  on  reserved  seats,  does 
not  mean  run-up  prices  and  jobbery,  but  simply  this  : — 
There  will  be  two  prices  :  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  (for 
reserved  seat)  two  dollars.  The  calculation  is  always 
made  at  one  price  only,  and  that  the  lowest.  It  is 
made  on  the  assumption  that  all  places  let,  are  places 
of  the  lowest  price.     You  understand  ? 

I  am  off  to  Eoss,  to  see  Forster  and  Dolby  together. 
Forster  notices  the  absence  of  margin  that  you  notice, 
in  the  calculation.  I  will  return  to  the  office,  Monday 
forenoon.  Final  telegraph  to  America,  Yes  or  No, 
that  day ! 

Ever  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


[This  paper  is  in  Dickens's  handwriting.] 

Memoranda. 
A.  7.  R. 

Remember  that  no  reference,  however  slight  is  to 
be  made  to  America  in  any  article  whatever,  unless  by 
myself. 

Remember  that  the  same  remark  applies  to  the 
subject  of  the  Fenians. 

Remember  that  a  Poem  by  Mrs.  Cowden  Clarke  is 


366  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

accepted  for  the  ordinary  current  No.   at  Christmas 
time.* 

Eemember  that  a  narrative  from  official  documents 
of  the  Webster  Murder  case,  is  to  come  in  from  Sir 
James  Emerson  Tennent.f 

John  Poole. 

His  address  is  8,  Fitzroy  Place,  Kentish  Town.  He 
will  be  very  thankful  if  you  will  sometimes  give  him 
a  call  as  you  go  by  on  Holly  Lodge:^  affairs.  He  has 
six  envelopes  addressed  to  you  at  the  office,  in  my 
writing,  with  "John  Poole  "  in  the  corner.  This  is 
in  case  of  his  wanting  any  looking  after.  He  is  to 
have  <£25  sent  to  him  on  the  24th  of  December,  and 
^25  on  the  25th  of  March.  In  case  of  his  death  I  have 
<£25  of  his  money  in  ')ny  hands  for  funeral  expenses. 

Letters. 

Any  that  may  come  to  Gad's  Hill  will  be  forwarded 
to  you  to  open  and  dispose  of.  Similarly,  open  all 
letters  addressed  to  me  that  may  come  here. 

Plorn  § 

After  the  Christmas  Holidays  is  to  go  to  a  Sheep- 
Farmer  for  a  few  months.  He,  or  his  tutor,  or  Mary, 
or  Georgina,  will  ask  you  to  settle  that  matter.  I 
suppose  that  through  Sidney  and  his  Agricultural  Hall 
connexion  we  can  know  reasonably  well  whether  any 
suggested  person  and  terms  would  be  likely  to  act 
well ;  or  could  find  out  the  right  person  and  terms, 
if  none  were  suggested. 

*  Presumably  "  The  Yule  Log,"  December  27th. 
t  "  The  Killing  of  Dr.  Parkman,"  December  7th. 
j  Miss  (Joutts's  residence  at  Highgate. 
§  His  youngest  son,  Edward  liulwer  Lytton  Dickens. 


1867]  ARRIVAL    IN    BOSTON.  367 

Mrs.  Scott  and  Mrs.  Kelly  and  Mrs.  Allison. 

Mrs.  Scott  is  to  be  paid  One  Pound  every  Saturday, 
down  in  the  office ;  beginning  this  next  Saturday,  the 
day  of  my  leaving  Liverpool.  Mrs.  Mary  Kelly,  21 
Leigh  Street,  Charles  Street,  Manchester,  is  to  have 
a  P.O.  order  for  £1  every  Saturday.  Mrs.  Allison, 
at  Mrs.  Spreights,  Kirkgate,  Wakefield,  Ditto. 

FORSTER 

Has  an  ample  Power  of  Attorney  from  me,  in  case 
you  should  want  any  legal  authority  to  act  in  my 
name. 

My  Private  Account  at  Coutts's 

Is  subject,  in  my  absence,  to  the  joint  cheques  of 
Mary  and  Georgina. 


THE  ELECTRIC    AND  INTERNATIONAL  TELEGRAPH 
COMPANY. 

The  following  Message  has  been  received  at  G.  D.  Station. 

22.  11.  1867. 
From 
Dickens, 

To 

Wills,  Twenty-six  Wellington  Street,  Strand,  London. 
Safe  and  well  expect  good  letter  full  of  hope. 

Parker  House,  Boston, 

Thursday,  Twenty -first  November,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — A  winter  passage  out  here  is, 
under  the  best  circumstances  (not  to  put  too  fine  a 
point  upon  it)  odious.     But  I  had,  in  the  Cuhiij  a  fine 


368  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

run — was  not  sick  for  a  moment — was  highly  popular 
on  board — made  no  end  of  speeches  after  the  last 
dinner  of  the  voyage — sang  no  end  of  duets  with  the 
Captain  (never  known  to  come  out  before)  and  came 
over  the  side  into  the  arms  of  Dolby  (in  a  steam  tug) 
illuminated  with  a  blaze  of  triumph. 

The  Pilot  brought  the  news  on  board  that  the 
people  had  stood  with  the  greatest  good  temper  in 
the  freezing  street,  12  hours,  to  buy  tickets  for  the 
first  four  readings  here  (the  only  Readings  announced), 
and  that  every  ticket  for  every  night  was  sold.  I 
found  it  to  be  literally  true.  The  gross  receipts  of 
those  4  nights  are  £250  beyond  our  calculation,  ^ew 
York  tickets  are  not  on  sale  until  next  week,  but  there 
are  signs  of  the  same  excitement  there.  The  Hall 
here  is  charming — I  never  saw  a  better.  If  I  can 
only  hit  them  hard  with  the  Carol  and  Trial,  I  think 
our  expectations  may  be  far  overpassed,  Longfellow, 
Emerson,  Holmes,  Agassiz,  and  all  Cambridge — Pro- 
fessors and  Students — are  booked  in  a  phalanx  for  the 
body  of  the  Hall  on  the  1st  night,  Monday,  December 
the  Second.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  interest  and 
heartiness  of  these  men. 

Boston,  as  a  City,  is  enormously  changed  since  I 
was  here,  and  is  far  more  mercantile.  I  do  not  yet 
notice  any  special  difference  in  manners  and  customs 
between  my  old  time  and  this  time — except  that  there 
is  more  of  New  York  in  this  fine  City  than  there  was 
of  yore.  The  Hotel*  I  stayed  at  in  my  first  visit  has 
now  become  contemptible.  This  is  an  establishment 
like  one  of  our  Termini  Hotels,  with  the  addition  of 
an  immense  quantity  of  white  marble  floors.  I  live 
on  the  third  storey — our  three  rooms  together — and 

*  The  Tremont  House. 


1867]  THE  PARKER  HOUSE.  369 

have  hot  and  cold  water  laid  on  in  a  bath  in  my  bed- 
room, and  other  comforts  not  known  in  my  fprmer 
experience.  The  cuisine  is  very  good.  The  cost  of 
living  is  enormous.  Ten  Pounds  sterling  a  day  for 
Dolby  and  me  is  by  no  means  a  large  estimate.  (It 
was  our  original  calculation.)  Happily,  Dolby  has 
seen  reason  to  make  up  his  mind  that  the  less  I  am 
shown — for  nothing — the  better  for  the  Eeadings  ! 
So  I  am  fended  off  and  kept — so  far — unexpectedly 
quiet.  In  addition  to  which  I  must  say  that  I  have 
experienced — so  far — not  the  slightest  intrusiveness, 
and  everywhere  the  greatest  respect  and  consideration. 
There  is  the  utmost  curiosity  about  the  Readings,  and 
I  should  not  wonder  if  they  proved  to  be  a  great 
surprise,  seeing  that  the  general  notion  stops  at  a  mere 
"  Eeading,"  book  in  hand. 

Even  you,  I  think,  will  find  it  difficult  to  believe 

that    at    this  moment has  not  sent   out    the 

pamphlet  with  the  Dinner  Speeches ! !  !  !*  Of  course 
when  it  does  come,  it  will  be  waste  paper.  The 
American  journals  all  over  the  country  have  taken  the 
account  from  the  English  Journals,  and  I  am  assured 
that  my  speech  has  given  the  highest  satisfaction  to 
the  American  people. 

This  is  all  my  news  at  present — except  that  I  am  so 
well  and  so  free  of  the  ship,  that  I  am  worried  by  not 
having  arranged  to  begin  reading  next  Monday — for 
I  yearn  to  begin  to  check  the  Readings  off,  and  feel 
myself  tending  towards  Home. 

My  love  to  Mrs.  Wills,  and  my  love  to  the  personal 
and  official  Wilkie.f  Fields  does  not  begin  to  publish 
the  Holiday  Romance  until  January.     I  will  advise 

•  The  farewell  dinner  to  Dickens  which  had  been   given  at  the  Free- 
masons' Tavern,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Lord  Lytton,  on  November  2nd. 
f  Wilkie  Collins  was  helping  Wills  in  the  work  of  All  the  Year  Round. 

D.E.  B    B 


370  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

you  in  good  time,  when  you  can  begin  with  it  in 
A.  Y,R.  Take  all  my  confidence  and  trust  now  and 
ever, 

And  Believe  me, 

Affectionately  Yours  always, 

CD. 

Parker  House,  Boston, 

Tuesday,  Tiventy -sixth  November,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — This  morning  I  got  yours  of 
the  14th,  just  in  time  to  send  you  an  answer  by  the 
Cunard  Steamer.  Our  prospects  here  are  most 
BRILLIANT — all  people,  public  and  private,  seem  in  the 
best  frame  of  mind  for  the  Eeadings  and  the  Reader 
— and  I  am  so  well,  thank  God,  after  the  voyage,  that 
I  am  continually  chafing  at  not  having  begun  last 
Monday  instead  of  next.  Will  you  write  Townshend 
a  line  giving  him  my  best  love,  and  telling  him  that 
I  will  write  to  him  on  the  day  after  my  first  Eeading 
here.  My  love  to  W^ilkie.  Your  account  of  your 
getting  on  together  is  delightful  to  me,  though  I  never 
doubted  it. 

Ever,  my  Dear  fellow. 

Yours  faithfully, 

C.  D. 


THE  ELECTRIC  AND  INTERNATIONAL  TELEGRAPH 
COMPANY. 

The  following  Message  has  been  received  at  Strand  Station. 

Dec.  4th,  1867. 
From 
Dickens, 

To 

Wills,  All  the  Year  Round  Office,  London. 

Tremendous  success   greatest  enthusiasm  all  well. 


1867]  SUCCESS.  371 

Parker  House,  Boston, 

Tuesday,  Third  December ,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  cannot  convey  to  yon  an 
adequate  idea  of  last  night's  tremendous  success.  The 
City  is  absolutely  mad  about  it.  The  reception  was 
magnificent,  and  the  "  go "  of  the  Heading  without 
any  approach  to  a  precedent  in  these  parts.  Nothing 
that  we  could  have  imagined  or  hoped  for,  could  have 
surpassed  the  reality.  There  was  (at  the  reduced  rate 
of  money  even)  £450  in  the  house.  And  the  New 
York  House  (which  is  also  sold  out  for  every  announced 
night)  holds  fully  500  people  more  ! 

Write  to  me  in  future  at  the  Westminster  Hotel, 
Irving  Place,  New  York  City.  It  is  a  more  central 
address  than  this,  and  we  shall  probably  be  much 
oftener  there.  My  present  intention  is  to  keep  rooms 
there,  and  I  have  also  started  a  Brougham  beforehand. 

We  shall  not  be  able  to  begin  the  children*  or 
George  Silverman  before  March,  as  Fields  does  not 
begin  either  until  January.  This  will  come  to  you 
by  my  ship,  the  Cuba,,  returning  home.  I  am  very 
well  indeed,  and  in  great  voice  and  force.  You  may 
be  absolutely  certain  that  the  success  here  COULD 
NOT  be  greater. 

Ever,  My  Dear  fellow. 

Your  affectionate, 
CD. 

Parker  House,  Boston,  U.S., 

Friday  J  Sixth  December,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  am  going  on  (between  our- 
selves) at  a  clear  profit  of  .£1,300  per  week  !     And  it 

*  "  A  Holiday  Romance  "  was  written  for  "  Our  Young  Folks,"  a  cliiUlrcn's 
magazine  published  in  Boston. 

B  b2 


372  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

is  quite  upon  the  cards  that  an  occasional  morning  in 
New  York  will  raise  even  these  figures.  Nickleby 
and  Boots  made  a  tremendous  hit  here  last  night,  and 
certainly  topped  my  favourite  Copperfield — which 
may  perhaps  be  a  thought  too  delicate  for  them,  though 
it  went  finely  too.  We  had  £500  in  the  House — £500 
English  at  the  handsome  rate  of  7  Dollars  to  the 
pound ! 

I  have  received  3  Nos.  of  A.  Y.  R,  all  good,  and 
Murray  very  good.  Be  extremely  chary  of  using 
those  Mugby  Junction  stories. 

To-morrow  at  11  we  start  for  New  York,  being  due 
there  at  8  in  the  evening.  On  Monday  I  open  there, 
with  Carol  and  Trial.  Tickets  at  a  premium,  and 
we  cannot  by  any  means  keep  out  the  speculators 
or  prevent  their  making  large  profits. 

With  kind  love  to  Mrs.  Wills,  Ever,  My  Dear  boy. 
Your  faithful  and  aff'ectionate, 

C.  D. 
Address  me  until  further  notice  : 

Westminster  Hotel, 
Irving  Place, 

New  York  City. 

Westminster  Hotel,  Irving  Place, 
New  York  City, 

Tuesday  Evening j  Tenth  December j  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  absolutely  impossible  that 
we  could  have  made  a  more  brilliant  success  than  we 
made  here  last  night.  The  reception  was  splendid, 
the  audience  bright  and  perceptive.  I  believe  that  I 
never  read  so  well  since  I  began,  and  the  general 
delight  was  most  enthusiastic.  And  now  I  may  tell 
you  that  before  I  came  away,  I  received  at  the  office 


18G7]  NEW  YORK  HOTELS.  373 

by  two  or  three  mails  from  here,  various  letters  about 
Danger,  Anti-Dickens  feeling,  Anti-English  feeling, 
New  York  rowdyism,  and  I  don't  know  what  else. 
As  I  was  in  for  coming,  I  resolved  to  say  no  word 
about  it  to  anyone.  Nor  did  I,  until  I  came  off  from 
the  "  Trial "  last  night,  when  I  told  Dolby. 

This  Hotel  is  quieter  than  Mivart's  in  Brook 
Street!  It  is  quite  as  comfortable,  and  the  French 
cuisine  is  immensely  better.  I  go  in  and  out  by  a  side 
door  and  a  little  staircase  that  leads  straight  to  my 
bedroom.  The  platform  absorbs  my  individuality,  and 
I  am  very  little  troubled.  We  have  on  the  first  floor, 
a  pretty  di-awing-room,  my  bedroom,  bathroom,  and 
Scott's  bedroom.  Dolby  has  his  bedroom  and  another 
room  in  which  to  see  his  clients,  on  the  floor  above. 
There  are  Hotels  (on  the  American  principle)  very 
near,  with  500  bedrooms  and  I  don't  know  how  many 
boarders.  This  Hotel  (on  the  Europian  principle)  is 
almost  faultless,  and  is  as  singularly  unlike  your  idea 
of  an  American  Hotel  as  unlike  can  be.  New  York 
has  grown  out  of  my  knowledge,  and  is  enormous. 
Everything  in  it  looks  as  if  the  order  of  nature  were 
reversed,  and  everything  grew  newer  every  day, 
instead  of  older.  The  Room — very  much  larger  than 
its  capacity  of  holding  people — is  about  as  trying  as 
St.  James's  Hall.     I  am  in  capital  health  and  voice. 

It  has  been  intensely  cold.  But  to-day  it  has 
thawed,  after  a  fall  of  snow.  Nothing  more  to 
report  at  present,  except  my  love  to  Mrs.  Wills,  and 
my  affectionate  and  faithful  regard  to  you. 

C.  D. 
Wednesday  Monmig. 

Copperfield  and  Bob  even  a  greater  success  last 
night   than    Carol   and  Trial   on    the   night   before. 


374  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

"Mr.  Digguns,"  said  the  German  Janitor  (the 
invariable  name  for  the  Hall  Keeper),  "  you  are  gread, 
meinherr.  There  is  no  ent  to  you  !  "  That  was  his 
parting  salutation  as  he  locked  me  out  into  a  hard 
frost.  "  Bedder  and  bedder,"  he  re-opened  the  door 
to  add,  "  Wot  negst !  " 


Westminster  Hotel,  Irving  Place, 
New  York  City, 

Tuesday y  Seventeenth  December,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — No  news,  except  that  this  house 
was  on  fire  last  Sunday  night  (a  matter  scarcely 
worth  mentioning  in  New  York),  and  that  we  turned 
out  and  packed  up.  But  the  fire  was  happily  got 
under.  The  meeting  of  all  the  inmates,  in  the  most 
extraordinary  dresses,  and  with  their  most  precious 
possessions  under  their  arms  or  imperfectly  crammed 
into  their  pockets,  was  very  ridiculous.  Everybody 
talked  to  everybody  else,  and  it  was  on  the  whole 
convivial. 

Everything  unchanged.  Everybody  sleighing. 
Everybody  coming  to  the  Readings.  There  were  at 
least  ten  thousand  sleighs  in  the  Park  last  Sunday. 
Your  illustrious  chief — in  a  red  sleigh  covered  with 
furs,  and  drawn  by  a  pair  of  fine  horses  covered 
with  bells,  and  tearing  up  14  miles  of  snow  an  hour 
— made  an  imposing  appearance. 

Tell  Wilkie  with  my  love  that  I  have  received  his 
work*  (admirably  done)  to  the  first  scene  of  the 
4tli  Act  inclusive,  and  that  I  hope  to  bring  the  thing 
to  terms  with  Wallack.     But  he  seems  a  little  shy 

*  Presumably  the  dramatic  version  of  "  No  Tiioroughfare." 


1867]  DOLBY.  375 

(or  I  fancy  it)  touching  the  10  per  cent.     I  hope  to 
report  finally  by  the  next  mail. 

Ever,  My  Dear  fellow, 

Your  affectionate, 
CD. 

Boston, 

Christmas  Eve,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Many,  many  merry  Christmases 
and  Happy  New  Years  to  you  and  yours,  and  to  all  of 
us  I  We  spend  our  Christmas  Day  this  year  on  the 
Eailway  between  this  place  and  New  York. 

The  same  success  always. 

Ticknor  and  Fields  publish  the  first  part  of 
"  Holiday  Eomance  "  on  the  1st  of  January.  They 
publish  it  in  4  parts.  Each  part  on  the  1st  of  the 
month.  Make  your  calculation  so  that  you  will  not 
jostle  them  (remembering  that  we  are  weekly  and  they 
monthly),  and  accordingly  announce  and  publish. 
Follow  up — perhaps  after  a  short  interval — with 
George  Silverman's  "Explanation.-'  They  publish 
that  in  3  monthly  parts,  beginning  on  the  1st  of 
January. 

Dolby's  best  regard.  He  is  incessantly  abused,  for 
no  reason  on  earth  but  that  he  is  not  an  American 
agent.  Think  of  a  low  newspaper  (which  had  been 
refused  our  advertisements)  in  Boston,  the  Hub  of 
the  Universe  as  they  call  it  (Hub  being  the  nave  of 
a  wheel),  having  this  article  of  news  last  Sunday 
morning : — "  The  chap  calling  himself  Dolby  got 
drunk  last  night  down  town,  and  was  locked  up  in 
the  Police  Station  for  fighting  an  Irishman  "  ! 

I  have  a  dismal  cold,  but  beat  it  down  at  8  p.m. 

In  making  up   A.  Y.  R.  try  to  bring  the  matter 


376  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1867 

closer  down  to  the  foot  of  the  last  page  of  the  'No. 
And  for  the  love  of  Heaven  no  more  of  those  Xmas 
Railway  stories.     Parkinson*  very  good. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 
Affectionately  yours, 

C.  D. 
Mrs.  Wills  not  forgotten. 

Remark  of  a  Western  Agent  (we  mean  to  go  out  West) 
to  Dolby  this  morning ;  Western  Agent  having  been 
present  at  *'  Copperfield  "  and  "  Bob  "  last  night. 

"  Wa'al,  Mas'r  Dolby,  I  tell  yew  this.  Sir.  He  has 
a  'tarnal  tall  name,  but  he  don't  want  it.  The  man 
as  can  do  that — never  was  so  skeared,  I  tell  you,  in 
all  my  life,  and  thought  I  should  ha'  burst ! — might 
just  go  out  West,  never  been  heard  of — and  Damn 
me  if  he  couldn't  draw  'em  across  the  plains  if  he 
chiz,  till  they  hit  their  foreheads  'gain  the  Rocky 
Mountens." 

Additional  Memorandum.  My  New  York  landlord 
makes  me  a  drink  melodiously  called  "A  Rocky 
Mountain  Sneezer." 

Westminster  Hotel,  Irving  Place, 
New  York, 

Monday,  Thirtieth  December,  1867. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Yours  dated  on  the  publishing 
day,  gives  glorious  tidings  of  the  Xmas  No.f  But 
somehow  I  am  not  sanguine  about  the  play.  I  don't 
see  it,  as  1  read  it.  It  may  be  my  mood,  or  my 
anxiety,  or  I  know  not  what  else ;  but  I  don't  see  it 
rush  on  to  its  end  in  a  spirited  manner. 

*  J.  C.  I'arkinson,  a  contributor.     A  letter  from  Dickens  warmly  com- 
mending iiis  services  and  his  ability  is  printetl  in  "  Letters,"  II.,  401. 
t  "No  Thoroughfare." 


1868]  WARD  BEECH ER'S  CHURCH.  377 

I  have  not  been  well,  and  have  been  obliged  to 
call  in  a  doctor ;  but  am  very  greatly  better — all 
right,  in  fact.  A  tonic  seems  to  do  me  a  deal  of 
good. 

All  right  about  Plorn.*  By  the  Lord,  he  ought  to 
be  a  first-rate  settler  after  all  his  cramming  ! 

Blazing  away  here,  after  more  tremendous  blazing 
in  Boston  (where  they  went  absolutely  mad  with 
'' Copperfield"),  and  previous  to  blazing  in  Phila- 
delphia, Brooklyn,  and  Baltimore.  Those  places,  this, 
and  Boston  for  another  2  nights,  will  occupy  this 
coming  month  of  January.  At  Brooklyn  I  read  in 
Mister  Ward  Beecher's  Church  (wonderfully  seated 
for  2,000)  with  the  audience  in  veritable  pews  !  I 
went  to  look  at  it  the  other  day,  and,  found  myself 
in  a  comically  incongruous  position.  It  is  the  only 
building  suitable  to  the  purpose  in  the  town. 

Many  happy  New  Years  to  you,  old  fellow.  And 
to  Mrs.  Wills  with  my  love. 

Ever  affectionately, 

CD. 


1868. 

The  final  American  Farewell  Beading  took  place  in 
New  York  on  Monday,  April  20th,  and  on  the  22nd 
Dickens  sailed  for  home  on  the  Eussia.  His 
health  towards  the  end  of  his  tour  had  given  cause 
for  great  anxiety,  for  he  had  suffered  from  a  violent 
catarrh,  and  his  foot  had  been  in  great  pain.  The 
voyage,  however,  seemed  to  restore  him  in  a  wonderful 
way.     He  arrived  at  home  early  in  May. 

In  October  he  began  another  reading  tour  in 
England  and  Scotland.     On  November  14th  he  gave 

*  His  youiifjest  son  was  pici)ariiiy  to  go  to  Auslialia. 


378  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G8 

a  private  reading  of  the  Sikes  and  Nancy  scenes 
from  "  Oliver  Twist,"  but  it  was  not  until  early  in  the 
following  year  that  he  added  them  to  his  public 
repertory.  Wills  had  an  accident  in  the  hunting  field 
during  Dickens's  absence  in  America,  and  was  laid  up 
for  a  long  time. 

Providence, 

Friday,  Twenty -first  February ,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — In  case  you  should  not  have 
discovered  Lytton's  Grosvenor  Square  No.  I  send  you 
this  second  note  by  tomorrow's  mail,  to  let  you  know 
that  it  is  12. 

I  have  your  letter  about  "  Holiday  Eomance,"  this 
morning.  You  will  know  before  you  get  this,  that  it 
is  all  right. 

has  proved  untrustworthy,   and  the  instant 

he  comes  back  from  a  mission  he  is  now  upon  at 
Buffalo,  I  shall  peremptorily  and  finally  discharge 
him.  That  will  probably  be  tomorrow.  Dolby  will 
write  to  you  as  soon  as  the  man  is  displaced  telling 
you  when  the  weekly  payment  made  by  the  ofiice  on 
his  account  is  to  cease  and  determine.  Here  is  another 
Paragon  found  out !  The  fellow  (speculating  himself) 
is  at  the  bottom  of  all  the  trouble  we  have  had, 
and  has  not  only  made  me  appear  in  this  town  the 
most  grasping  and  sordid  scoundrel  going,  but  has 
cost  me  in  this  one  place  .£300. 

It  is  curious  that  1  conceived  a  great  dislike  towards 
this  man,  aboard  the  Cuba  coming  out.  Ho  was 
ill  all  the  voyage,  and  I  only  saw  him  two  or  three 
times,  staggering  about  the  lower  deck  ;  but  I  under- 
went a  change  of  feeling  towards  him,  as  if  I  had 
taken  it  in  at  the  pores  of  the  skin.     Dolby  had  great 


18G8]   THE  IMPEACHMENT  OF  ANDREW  JOHNSON.    379 

confidence  in  him,  and  I  have  never  suspected  him 
until  within  the  last  few  days ;  but  an  inscrutable  item 
of  complaint  about  the  sale  here,  being  brought  in 
yesterday  afternoon  by  Osgood,  it  suddenly  fired  a 
whole  train  in  m}^  mind  and  blew  up  the  scheme.  It 
became  as  intelligible  to  all  three  of  us,  after  a  few 
minutes,  as  to  the  concoctor  himself. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Boy, 
Affectionately  yours, 

CD. 


Boston, 

Tuesday,  Twenty-ffth  February ,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — It  is  especially  lucky  that  I 
made  so  much  money  at  first,  for  this  Impeachment 
of  the  President  *  which  you  will  have  known  of  long 
before  you  get  this  (the  vote  was  taken  at  five  yester- 
day afternoon),  will  for  the  time,  probably  over-ride 
and  overthrow  everything  in  this  country.  It 
instantly  emptied  our  great  gallery  here  last  night, 
and  paralyzed  the  Theatres  in  the  midst  of  a  rush  of 
good  business. 

I  think  of  striking  out  next  week's  Eeadings  here 
(not  yet  announced),  aud  giving  the  political  uproar 
and  excitement  that  much  time  to  take  a  distinct 
direction  and  be  intelligible  to  a  foreigner.  This 
business  of  the  War  Secretary  is  the  result  of  a 
deliberate  plan  on  the  part  of  the  President,  to  bring 
the  question  between  him  and  Congress  to  an  issue. 

*  President  Andrew  Johnson  had,  in  defiance  of  the  Tenure  of  Office  Act, 
removed  the  Secretary  of  War  (Edwin  M.  Stanton)  from  ollicc  without  the 
consent  of  the  Senate.  The  House  of  llepresentatives  thereupon  voted  to 
impeach  him  before  the  Senate  for  high  crimes  and  misdemeanours.  In  the 
following  May  lie  was  ac(|uitt(;d,  the  majority  of  votes  against  him  being 
one  less  than  the  two-thirds  required  for  conviction. 


380 


CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR. 


[1868 


I  was  confidentially  forewarned  of  it  at  Washington 
18  days  ago. 

Love  to  Mrs.  Wills, 

Ever,  My  Dear  Boy, 

Your  affectionate, 

C.  D. 


[This  list  is  in  Dickens's  handwriting.] 

REMAINING    LIST    OF    READINGS. 


I  Marigold  and  Gamp. 
Monday,  March  Ist  [2nd]  )  Second  Week  of  Boston  !  CaKnd  Bob"^  ^^^' 

'"  ]  Dombey  and  Gamp. 
(  Marigold  and  Trial. 


to  6th 


j      Fortnight 


Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesday, 

Thursday, 

Friday, 

Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesday, 

Thursdaj"^, 

Friday, 

Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesda}', 

Thursday, 

Friday, 

Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesflay, 

Thursday, 

Friday, 

Monday, 
Tuesday, 
Wednesday, 
Tliursday, 
Good  Friday 

Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesday, 

Tliurstlay, 

Friday, 

Monday, 


March  9th. 
„  10th. 
„  11th. 
„  12th. 
„  13th. 
(To  the 

„  16th. 

„  17th. 

„  18th. 

„  19th. 

„  20th. 

„      23rd. 
„      24th. 

25th. 

26th. 

27th. 

30th. 
31st. 

1st. 
2nd. 

3rd. 

6th. 
7th. 
8th. 
9th. 
10th. 

13th. 
14th. 
1.0th. 
16th. 
17th. 
20th. 


Syracuse Carol  and  Trial. 

Rochester  (first)  ...     Carol  and  Trial. 

Off  Night. 

Buffalo Carol  and  Trial. 

Do Marigold  and  Bob. 

Falls  of  Niagara,  2  hours  railway.) 


April 


Rochester  (second) 

Off  Night  for  travelling. 

Albany    ... 

Do 

Springfield         

Worcester  

Newhaven  (second) 
Hartford  (second) 
Off  Night. 
New  Bedford     

Portland 

Off"  Night  for  travelling. 
1st  Boston  Farewell  ... 
2nd  Do. 

3rd  Do. 

4th  Do. 

r>th  Do. 

Final  Boston  Farewell... 
Off  Night. 
Do. 

1st  New  York  Farewell 

2nd  Do. 

Off  Night. 

3r(l  New  York  Farewell 

4th  Do. 

FinalAmcrican  Farewell, 
in  New  York.  And 
last  Heading  of  the 
Series  1  Wednesday, 
22nd  April,  ('uba. 


Marigold  and  Bob. 

Carol  and  Trial. 
Marigold  and  Bob. 
Carol  and  Trial. 

Carol  and  Trial. 
Marigold  and  Bob. 
Marigold  and  Bob. 

Carol  and  Trial. 
Carol  and  Trial. 

The  subjects  of  the 
remaining  Headings 
not  yet  fixed. 


1868J  PEOPLE  FROM  CANADA.  381 

Boston, 

Friday,  Twenty-eighth  February,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  enclose  a  curious  article 
(written for  the  Atlantic  Monthly)  on  the  ''Poison  of 
the  Eattlesnake."  *  You  may  publish  it  in  A.  Y.  R. 
any  day  after  the  20th  of  March. 

As  Dolby  was  uneasy  about 's  dismissal,  I  have 

consented  to  keep  him  on,  within    narrower  limits, 
until  we  come  back. 

I  have  decided  to  give  myself  a  holiday  next  week. 
My  next  week's  readings  here  were  not  announced 
when  the  Impeachment  broke  out  again,  and  caused 
great  excitement.  As  I  am  coming  back  here  on  the 
1st  of  April  for  6  Farewells,  I  thought  it  best  (under 
the  exceptional  circumstances  of  the  time)  to  abolish 
next  week's  nights.  We  had  a  fine  house  last  night 
for  Carol  and  Trial,  and  a  tremendous  call  between 
the  two.  I  responded  to  it,  and  when  I  came  in 
again  they  had  covered  my  table  with  lovely  flowers. 

Very  sorry  to  hear  of  Wilkie's  having  been  so  ill. 
Pray  give  him  my  love,  and  tell  him  that  I  earnestly 
hope  he  is  much  better. 

Our  tickets  at  Rochester  and  Buffalo  were  sold  this 
week.  People  came  out  of  Canada,  struggling  on  foot 
across  the  frozen  river  and  climbing  over  great  ice- 
blocks,  to  buy  some ! 

With  love  to  Mrs.  Wills, 

Ever  affectionately, 

CD. 
Rochester, 

Monday,  Sixteenth  March,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — The  pony  an  immense — a  pro- 
digious —  a  rapturous  —  success  !      The   photograph 

*  All  the  Year  Round,  March  28th,  18C8, 


382  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1868 

didn't  come,  either  in  your  letter  or  in  Mrs.  Dolby's  ; 
but  I  was  present,  alone  with  Dolby,  when  he  opened 
her  letter  last  night,  and  the  surprise  and  delight 
were  marvellous  to  behold  ! 

Enclosed : 

1.  Another  letter. 

2.  2  Documents  to  compare  with  Coutts's  receipts, 

as  usual. 

3.  Eeceipt  for  a  small  box  from  Niagara  that  is  to 

come  to  the  office  addressed  to  me.     Please 
pay  all  charges  on  it,  and  put  it  (unopened) 
in  my  office  bedroom  to  await  my  coming. 
You  will  know  from  another  letter  of  mine  before 
you  get  this,  that  I  have  always  purposed  doing  some- 
thing for  our  new  Series,*  though  I  don't  yet  know 
what.     I  have  positively  resolved  to  write  no  American 
sketches  whatever. 

Yery  extraordinary  about  poor  Townshend  !  He 
told  me,  and  he  told  Henri,  that  he  had  left  the  latter 
£60  a  year.  I  wonder  did  he  alter  his  will  in  that 
wise,  after  the  discovery  of  the  missing  prints. 

I  don't  agree  with  you  about  the  Farewell  Readings, 
but  think  £8,000  quite  as  much  as  they  will  reason- 
ably bear.  It  is  indisputable  that  Chappell's  profits 
in  the  last  Series  was  very  small.  There  is  no  doubt 
of  it,  because  Dolby  kept  the  accounts. 

We  have  had  two  bright  brilliant  days  at  Niagara, 
and  the  scene  was  splendid  beyond  all  description. 
With  love  to  Mrs.  Wills, 

Ever  my  Dear  Boy, 

Your  affectionate, 

C.  D. 

*  The  first  number  of  a  "  New  Series"  of  All  tlic  Year  Iluund  appeared 
on  December  5th  of  this  year. 


1868]  BACK  IN  ENGLAND.  883 

New  York, 

Friday,  Seventeenth  April,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — We  have  notice  to  be  on  board 
on  Wednesday  at  half -past  one,  and  shall  probably 
sail  at  half -past  two.  The  Farewells  are  going  finely 
here.  I  am  very  weary,  but  no  worse.  Your  last 
letter  gives  me  the  hope  that  I  may  find  you  quite 

restored.     I  have  discharged and  he  goes  home 

tomorrow. 

Ever  affectionately, 

d  D. 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

OFFICE   OF    ALL    THE   YEAR  ROUND. 
A  Weekly  Journal  conducted  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C, 
Monday,  Twenty -fifth  May,  1868. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  :— As  I  am  the  man  who  is 
not  going  to  the  Derby,  I  will  come  down  on  Wednes- 
day by  the  11.55  train  you  tell  me  of,  returning  to 
town  by  any  good  train  in  the  early  evening.  My 
love  to  Wills,  whom  I  hope  to  find  coming  round  the 
corner  (figuratively)  at  a  steady  pace. 

Faithfully  yours  always, 

Charles  Dickens. 

[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

A.  7.  R., 

Friday,  Twenty-sixth  June,  1868. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — 1  should  have  answered 
your  letter  yesterday,  but  for  an  unusual  amount  of 
drudgery  in  setting  Proofs  right  for  the  No. 

Your  tidings  of  Wills  I  think  good.     That  he  must 


384  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1868 

have  time,  we  knew  from  the  first.  He  has  not  had 
a  long  time  yet ;  and  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  even 
to  be  no  worse  is  to  be  better.  The  bracing  place  I 
am  strongly  in  favour  of.  I  am  very  hopeful  that  it 
will  make  a  great  change  in  him. 

I  had  seen  that  letter  about  the  Ladies'  College, 
and  will  be  prepared  to  pursue  the  subject  should  the 
opportunity  be  presented.     Do  you  know  that  some 

rather  ugly  disclosures  are  afloat  about ?     I  know 

of  others,  hushed  up  a  few  years  ago.  It  is  my  belief 
that  some  men  will  come  to  the  Guild  meeting,  expressly 
to  prevent  his  having  that  advance  of  money.  I  think 
I  know  of  two,  who  are  influencing  more.  And  as  I 
cannot  conscientiously  propose  it,  or  support  it,  I  don't 
think  he'll  get  it. 

Will  you  tell  Wills  at  some  time  or  other,  that  his 
old  Mare  has  not  done  a  week's  work  since  she  came 
to  Gad's,  and  is  totally  unfit  for  any  sort  of  usefulness. 
Shall  I  have  her  shot  ? 

Everything  at  the  office  is  quiet  and  straight. 
With  my  love  to  Wills,  believe  me  ever, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Charles  Dickens. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Tnssday,  Thirtieth  June,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills: — Of  course  the  Mare  shall  roll 
in  the  lap  of  luxury  (which  is  very  much  dried  up 
by  the  bye,  for  want  of  water)  until  you  send  for  her. 

I  don't  think  Mr.  Eobertson  would  do.  There  is 
no  literature  in  that  kind  of  Drama,  and  I  feel  con- 
vinced that  the  short  notice  and  the  necessity  of 
compression  would  be  too  much   for  him,  with  no 


18G8]  WILLS'S  HEAD.  385 

experience  of  that  kind  of  writing — our  kind,  I  mean. 
Of  the  Miss  Mulholland  idea,  I  think  much  better. 
I  will  write  to  her  on  Thursday. 

Fitzgerald's  "  Boy's  Biography  "  *  is  "  servilely 
founded  "  (he  writes)  on  me.  But  it  goes  on  well 
enough,  and  I  was  to  have  the  whole  of  it  this  week. 
If  I  get  it,  and  it  continues  up  to  the  mark,  we  shall 
he  none  the  worse  for  having  two  strings  to  our  bow. 

I  don't  like  Mrs.  Linton  for  a  story. 

The  fly-swallowing  Holdsworth  asking  me  with  open 
eyes  t'other  day  what  was  to  be  done  about  Mr.  Yates's 
story  and  the  volume,  I  thought  it  best  to  maintain 
the  fiction  that  we  were  going  straight  on  from  Wilkie 
to  Edmund.  If  we  do  not  keep  the  fiction  up  as  long 
as  possible,  we  shall  not  get  the  copy  that  ought  to 
be  written.  Grave  and  gloomy  resolve  therefore  sits 
upon  my  lofty  brow. 

I  will  write  to  you  again  about  the  Guild,  on 
Thursday  or  Friday.  I  shall  be  very  glad  when  you 
change  your  air  again,  and  try  a  new  and  a  bracing 
place.  Never  mind  the  singing.  If  you  feel  that 
your  head  is  better,  rely  upon  it  you  are  right, 
howsoever  vaguely  you  may  feel  it. 

For  the  soul  of  mc,  I  cannot  (hammer  and  think  as 
I  will)  raise  the  ghost  of  an  idea  for  the  Xmas  No. 

Disconsolately, 
C.  D. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  EOCHESTER,  KeNT, 

Sunday,  Tioenty-sixth  July,  1868. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  yours  of  the  22nd  this 
morning,  and  am  delighted  to  get  it.     It  has  made 

*  "  Autobiofrraphy  o[  a  Small  I'oy,"  All  the  Year   /?r»M/wZ,  August  Is'th 
and  22nd,  1868. 

D.E.  C    C 


88G  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1868 

two  journeys  between  this  place  and  the  office  before 
coming  to  hand. 

The  "  Militia  "  paper  *  is  by  Sydney  Blanchard.  In 
justice  to  him  I  must  mention  that  it  has  been  in  type 
for  several  weeks,  but  that  I  could  not  get  it  in  sooner. 
I  have  taken  great  pains  with  the  Nos.  and  have 
selected  carefully.  There  are  two  papers  by  Sala  now 
in  type.     Not  much  in  them. 

I  have  been,  and  still  am — which  is  worse — in 
a  positive  state  of  despair  about  the  Xmas  No. 
I  cannot  get  an  idea  for  it  which  is  in  the  least 
satisfactory  to  me,  and  yet  I  have  been  steadily 
trying  all  this  month.  I  have  invented  so  many 
of  these  Christmas  Nos.  and  they  are  so  profoundly 
unsatisfactory  after  all  with  the  introduced  stories 
and  their  want  of  cohesion  or  originality,  that  I  fear 
I  am  sick  of  the  thing.  I  have  had  serious  thoughts 
of  abandoning  the  Xmas  No.  !  There  remain  but 
August  and  September  to  give  to  it  (as  I  begin  to 
read  in  October),  and  I  can  not  see  itf 

I  quite  agree  with  you  about  the  "  Moonstone." 
The  construction  is  wearisome  beyond  endurance,  and 
there  is  a  vein  of  obstmate  conceit  in  it  that  makes 
enemies  of  readers. 

My  love  to  Mrs.  Wills.  All  sorts  of  messages  to 
you. 

Ever  affectionately, 

CD. 

Poor  George  Cattermole  is  dead.:}:  Very,  very, 
poor.  Family  quite  unprovided  for ;  debt  and 
distress. 

*  "  Out  With  the  Militia,"  All  the  Year  Ihmnd,  July  2r>th,  1868. 
f  The  (Jhristmfvs  number  was  abandoned. 

+  II.!  died  on  July  24th,  aged  08.  He  and  "  Phiz  '"  illustrated  "  Master 
Humphrey's  Clock." 


18G8]  THE   CHRISTMAS  NUMBER.  387 

Friday,  Thirty-first  Jiily^  1868. 
My  Dear  Wills  : — I  had  such  a  hard  day  at  the 
office  yesterday,  that  I  had  not  time  to  write  to  you 
before  I  left.     So  I  write  to-day. 

I  am  very  unwilling  to  abandon  the  Xmas  No. 
though  even  in  the  case  of  my  little  Xmas  Books 
(which  were  immensely  profitable)  I  let  the  idea  go, 
when  I  thought  it  was  wearing  out.  Ever  since  I 
came  home,  I  have  hammered  at  it  more  or  less,  and 
have  been  uneasy  about  it.  I  have  begun  something 
which  is  very  droll  but  it  manifestly  shapes  itself 
towards  a  book,  and  could  not  in  the  least  admit  of 
even  that  shadowy  approach  to  a  congruous  whole 
on  the  part  of  other  contributors  which  they  have 
ever  achieved  at  the  best.  I  have  begun  something 
else  (aboard  the  American  mail  steamer)  but  I  don't 
like  it,  because  the  stories  must  come  limping  in  after 
the  old  fashion — though  of  course  what  I  have  done, 
will  be  good  for  A.  Y.  E.  In  short,  I  have  cast  about 
with  the  greatest  pains  and  patience,  and  I  have  been 
wholly  unable  to  find  what  I  want. 

And  yet  I  cannot  quite  make  up  my  mind  to  give 
in,  without  another  fight  for  it.  I  offered  £100  reward 
at  Gad's  to  anybody  who  could  suggest  a  notion  to 
satisfy  me.  Charles  Collins  suggested  one  yesterday 
morning,  in  which  there  is  something  though  not 
much.  I  will  turn  it  over  and  over,  and  try  a  few 
more  starts  on  my  own  account.  Finally  I  swear  I 
will  not  give  it  up  until  August  is  out!  Vow 
registered. 

I  am  clear  that  a  No.  "by  various  writers"  would 
not  do.  If  we  have  not  the  usual  sort  of  No.  we  must 
call  the  current  No.  for  that  date,  the  Xmas  No.  and 
make  it  as  good  as  possible.     The  way  to  that  can  be 

c  c  2 


388  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1868 

paved  in  the  Introduction  to  the  new  Series,  and  we 
will  even  make  a  merit  of  it. 

Charles  Collins  is,  for  the  time,  better.  I  am  buying 
the  freehold  of  the  meadow  at  Gad's,  and  of  an 
adjoining  arable  field,  so  that  I  shall  now  have 
about  eight  and  twenty  freehold  acres  in  a  ring  fence. 
No  more  news. 

I  made  up  a  very  good  No.  yesterday.  You 
will  see  in  it  a  very  short  article  that  I  have  called 
"  Now ! "  *  which  is  a  highly  remarkable  piece  of 
description.  It  is  done  by  a  new  man  from  whom  I 
have  accepted  another  article,  but  he  will  never  do 
anything  so  good,  again.  Fitzgerald's  ''  Autobiography 
of  a  Small  Boy  "  not  very  original,  but  still  good. 

Ever  affectionately, 
CD 


Gad's, 

Sunday,  Ttventy- seventh  Sejjtemher,  18G8. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  want  to  have  a  talk  with  you 
on  Thursday,  relative  to  putting  my  son  Charley  into 
Morley's  present  place,  j"  I  must  turn  his  education 
to  the  best  account  I  can  until  we  can  hit  upon 
some  other  start  in  life,  and  he  can  certainly  take 
the  bag  and  report  on  its  contents,  and  carry 
on  the  correspondence.  He  seems  to  have  an  idea 
himself  that  he  can  strike  out  some  notions  at 
the  Museum  Library,  and  I  have  not  dissuaded  him 
from  trying. 

*  All  the  Yea?-  Round,  August  inth. 

t  Ilcnry  Morley  was  at  this  time,  and  had  been  since  1865,  Professor  of 
English  Literature  at  King's  College.  Charles  Dickens,  junior,  eventually 
came  into  the  office,  and,  after  his  father's  death,  carrie<l  on  the  publication 
of  All  the  Year  liound. 


1869]  SIXES  AND   NANCY.  389 

Who  is  the  New  Librarian  ?  I  have  lost  sight  of 
the  place  since  Panizzi's*  time,  and  want  to  write  for  a 
ticket  for  Charley. 

I  had  a  sad  parting  with  poor  Plornt  yesterday 
afternoon,  and  have  not  been  myself  since. 

Ever  affectionately, 

C.  D. 


[To  Mrs.  Wills.] 

No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Saturday,  Fourteenth  November,  1868. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Wills  : — I  am  very  sorry  indeed  that 
I  shall  not  see  you  and  Wills  to-night  X — though  I 
think  you  will  escape  a  rather  horrible  business ! 

Tell  Wills  with  my  love  that  everything  is  right 
here,  and  going  like  a  clock — a  great  deal  more  like  a 
clock  than  this  thing  he  bought  me  for  my  room  here, 
which  is  an  utterly  unreliable,  unreasonable,  and 
incomprehensible   Beast. 

Ever  faithfully, 

Charles  Dickens. 


1869. 

In  spite  of  evident  signs  of  illness  and  exhaustion 
Dickens  continued  his  provincial  reading  tour  until 

*  Sir  Antonio  Panizzi,  principal  librarian  of  the  British  Museum  from 
1856  to  1866. 

t  His  youngest  son  sailed  for  Australia,  where  he  settled. 

i  At  a  private  rea<ling  of  the  Slkes  and  Nancy  scenes  from  "  Oliver 
Twist." 


390  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS   EDITOR.  [1869 

it  was  peremptorily  brought  to  an  end  by  his  doctor's 
orders  at  Preston  on  April  22  nd.  Henceforth  read- 
ings which  entailed  travel  were  to  be  entirely 
abandoned. 

He  was  at  work  on  "  Edwin  Drood  "  in  October, 
though  the  first  monthly  number  was  not  published 
until  the  following  April. 

Wills  in  the  course  of  this  year,  after  having 
travelled  abroad,  resigned  his  position  as  sub-editor 
of  All  the  Year  Bound  and  retired  to  the  house 
which  he  had  taken  near  "Welwyn  in  Hertfordshire. 
His  health  had  for  some  time  past  troubled  him,  and 
his  serious  accident  had  greatly  shaken  him  and  had 
produced  what  Dickens  in  the  letter  of  March  30tb 
calls  "  that  Church  organ  in  your  head."  His  place 
on  All  the  Year  Round  was  taken  by  Charles  Dickens, 
junior. 

A  letter  from  Dickens  to  Wills  of  June  24th, 
printed  in  "Letters,"  II.,  422,  is  not  in  my  collection. 


No.  26,  Wellington  Street, 
Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Tuesday,  Second  February,  18G9. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — In  case  your  cold  should  keep 
you  at  home  both  to-day  and  to-morrow  (and  mind 
you  don't  come  out,  unless  in  a  fit  state  to  do  so)  I 
send  you  this  line  in  reference  to  Charley. 

Don't  you  think,  as  he  has  so  much  on  his  hands, 
that  it  will  be  fair  to  rate  him  on  the  ship's  books  at 
Six  Guineas  per  week  ? 

Affectionately  ever, 

CD. 


18G9]  "NO  THOROUGHFARE."  391 

Edinburgh, 

Thursday,  Twenty-jifth  February,  18G9. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Yours  received  this  moriiing. 

I  have  been  getting  on  exceedingly  well  with  my 
foot,  so  far.  Although  I  feel  it  a  little  fatigued  by 
the  standing  at  night,  it  has  caused  me  no  other 
inconvenience.     "Business"  here  is  tremendous  ! 

I  shall  hope  to  see  you  at  the  office  on  Tuesday.  If 
not,  I  will  write  to  you  from  thence,  giving  you  the 
"  fixture  "  for  next  day. 

Ever  affectionately, 

C.  D. 


No.  2G,  Wellington  Street, 

Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Tuesday,  Thirtieth  March,  18G9. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that 
Wilkie's  play*  went  brilliantly  last  night.  It  was 
extremely  well  played  throughout,  and  I  have  rarely 
seen  Fechter  to  greater  advantage.  It  was  more  like 
a  fiftieth  night  than  a  first.  Everything  was  exactly 
as  I  left  it  after  four  or  five  hours  at  it  on  Saturday. 
Not  a  word  or  a  person  out  of  place.  I  told  Fechter 
that  he  ought  to  thank  every  one  concerned,  down  to 
the  Supers,  for  their  remarkable  care  and  attention, 
which  he  did  when  the  curtain  fell.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  it  ought  to  run,  for  it  has  real  merit  and  is 
most  completely  and  delicately  presented. 

By  this  time  I  hope  you  will  have  had  a  touch  or 
two  of  warm  weather.  Bitter  east  winds,  hail,  snow, 
and  other  ingenious  congelations  of  rain,  are  the  rule 

*  "  No  Thoroughfare  "  at  the  Adelphi. 


392  CHARLES   DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [18G9 

here.  All  well  and  brilliant  personally.  I  have  had 
a  great  burning  of  papers  in  your  room — have 
destroyed  everything  not  wanted — and  have  laid  in 
a  stock  of  Dictionaries  and  reference-books. 

"  Oui-  Mr.  C.  Greatorex  "  is  in  communication  with 
me  about  a  house  that  promises — but  I  have  not  yet 
been  inside  it.  He  seems  to  be  a  very  fair  and  honest 
fellow. 

I  went  to  see  old  Poole*  yesterday,  who  was  full  of 
interest  about  you.  He  was  so  dirty,  smelt  so  ill,  and 
scratched  himself  so  horribly,  that  he  turned  my 
stomach.  I  came  back  in  a  Hansom,  quite  sick,  and 
was  revived  (by  Georgina)  with  brandy.  N.B.  I 
have  scratched  myself  ever  since,  and  am  doing  so 
now. 

This  is  all  my  news,  except  that  I  send  my  love  to 
Mrs.  Wills.  If  that  Church  Organ  in  your  head  will 
but  leave  off  playing  Voluntaries,  you  have  nothing 
else — that  I  know  of — to  trouble  yourself  about ;  so 
stick  to  the  mountains  and  the  Spanish  border. 

Ever  affectionatelv, 

d  D. 

I  am  off  for  Sheffield,  Birmingham,  and  Liverpool, 
tomorrow  morning.     "  Dombey"  tonight. 


Monday  J  Third  May,  18G9. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — This  is  to  send  my  love  to 
Mrs.  Wills  and  you,  and  to  assure  you  that  I  am 
really  all  right.  I  had  begun  suddenly  to  be  so 
shaken  by  constant  Express  travelling,  that  I  might 
very  easily  have  been  ill.     Said  the  Doctors  :  ''  Take 

*  Sec  aJttc,  p.  28,  note. 


18G9]  AN   AMERICAN   STORY.  393 

warning,  stop  instantly."     I  made   the  plunge,  and 
became,  please  God,  well. 

Ever  affectionately, 

C.  D. 


[The  first  paragraph  of  the  following  letter  is  printed 
in  "  Letters,"  II.,  292,  but  is  there  wrongly  added  to 
a  letter  of  June  13th,  18G7 — which  letter  ought  to  be 
dated  June  30th.] 

26,  Wellington  Stkeet, 

Strand,  London,  W.C, 

Tuesday,  Third  August,  1869. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — Your  account  of  your  journey 
reminds  me  of  one  of  the  latest  American  stories : — 
How  a  Traveller  by  Stage  Coach  said  to  the  driver : 
"  Did  you  ever  see  a  snail.  Sir  ?  " — ''  Yes,  Sir." 
"Where  did  you  meet  liim,  Sir?" — "I  didn't 
meet  him,  Sir." — "  Waal,  Sir,  I  think  you  did, 
if  you'll  excuse  me,  for  I'm  damned  if  you  ever 
overtook  him." 

As  to  Mrs.  ,  Lord !     If  she  only  knew  how 

ugly  I  am  !  I  do  believe  her  to  be — well — let  me  be 
calm — and  yet — under  that  Skimpolian  mask  of 
childishness  as  to  money  and  worldly  affairs,  what 
abysses  of  shallow  cunning  are  discernible ! 

All  goes  well  here.  I  have  been  "at  it"  con- 
siderably. Look  at  a  very  remarkable  story  in  2 
chapters,  "An  Experience,"*  which  begins  next 
week. 

*  All  tlie  Year  Rounds  August  I4th  and  2l8t. 


394  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1869 

Love  to  Mrs.  Wills.  I  shall  be  here  on  Thurs- 
day. 

Ever,  My  Dear  Wills, 

Your  affectionate, 

CD. 

Gad's  Hill  Place, 

HiGHAM  BY  KOCHESTEII,  KeNT, 

Friday,  Tiventy-fourth  December,  1869. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — I  have  been  so  put  about  by 
conflicting  engagements — readings,  writings,  editings, 
Birmingham  correspondence  and  other  botherations — 
that  I  have  not  even  written  to  you.  And  now  I 
must  put  off  my  pleasant  visit  of  inspection,  until  I 
get  a  little  clear,  for  everything  comes  at  once.  Many 
Merry  Christmases  and  Happy  New  Years  to  Mrs. 
Wills  and  you. 

Ever  yours  affectionately, 

Charles  Dickens. 


1870. 


From  January  to  March  IGth,  Dickens  gave  a 
series  of  Farewell  Headings  in  London  at  St.  James's 
Hall. 

When  he  died  on  June  8th  three  numbers  of 
"Edwin  Drood"  had  appeared  and  he  had  written 
enough  for  three  more. 

I  have  no  letters,  except  the  two  that  follow,  for 
this  year. 

Wills  outlived  his  friend  and  chief  by  more  than 
ten  years. 


1870]  A   PULSE   OF   112.  395 

5,  Hyde  Park  Place,  London,  W., 

Sunday,  Tiventy -third  January,  1870. 

My  Dear  Wills  : — In  the  note  to  hand  from  you 
about  Kancy  and  Sikes,  you  seem  to  refer  to 
some  other  note  you  had  written  me.  Therefore  I 
think  it  well  merely  to  mention  that  I  have  received 
no  other  note. 

I  do  not  wonder  at  your  not  being  up  to  the  under- 
taking* (even  if  you  had  had  no  cough)  under  the 
wearing  circumstances.  It  was  a  very  curious  scene. 
The  actors  and  actresses  (most  of  the  latter  looking 
very  pretty)  mustered  in  extraordinary  force,  and 
were  a  fine  audience.  I  set  myself  to  carrying  out  of 
themselves  and  their  observation,  those  who  were  bent 
on  watching  how  the  effects  were  got : — and  I  believe 
I  succeeded.  Coming  back  to  it  again,  however,  I 
feel  it  was  madness  ever  to  do  it  continuously.  My 
ordinary  pulse  is  72,  and  it  runs  up  under  this  effort 
to  112.  Besides  which,  it  takes  me  ten  or  twelve 
minutes  to  get  my  wind  back  at  all :  I  being  in  the 
meantime  like  the  man  who  lost  the  fight : — in  fact, 
his  express  image.  Frank  Beard  was  in  attendance 
to  make  divers  experiments  to  report  to  "Watson ;  and 
although,  as  you  know,  he  stopped  it  instantly  when 
he  found  me  at  Preston,  he  was  very  much  astonished 
by  the  effects  of  the  "  Eeading  "  on  the  Header. 

So  I  hope  you  may  be  able  to  come  and  hear  it 
before  it  is  silent  for  ever.  It  is  done  again  on  the 
evenings  of  the  1st  February,  15  th  February,  and 
8th  March.  I  hope,  now  I  have  got  over  the 
mornings,  that  I  may  be  able  to  work  at  my  book. 
But  up  to  this  time  the  great  preparation  required  in 

*  This  refers  to  a  morning  ruatling  of  "Sikes"  and  "Nancy,"  mainly 
attended  by  actors  and  actresses. 


39G  CHARLES  DICKENS  AS  EDITOR.  [1870 

getting  the  subjects  up  again,  and  the  twice  a  week 
besides,  have  almost  exclusively  occupied  me. 

I  have  something  the  matter  with  my  right  thumb, 
and  can't  (as  you  see)  write  plainly.  I  sent  a  word 
to  poor  Robert  Chambers,*  and  I  send  my  love  to 
Mrs.  Wills. 

Ever,  my  Dear  Wills, 

Affectionately  yours, 

CD. 

The    ATHENiEUM, 

Saturday,  Tiventy -sixth  February j  1870. 

My  Deak  Wills  : — You  know  that  you  are 
expected  at  a  certain  small  dinner  of  four,  next 
Thursday,  the  3rd  March,  at  Blanchard's  in  Eegent 
Street  at  6  sharp  ?  Don't  you  ?  A  word  in  answer 
to  5,  Hyde  Park  Place,  W. 

Ever  affectionately, 

CD. 

*  Robert  Chambers's  second  wife  had  died. 


INDEX. 


Absolout,  Mr.,  44 

Ainsworth,  Harrison,  3 

Albert,  Prince  Consort,  282,  300,  n. 

All  the  Year  Hound,  xi,  xiv,  46  ; 
founding  of,  238  ;  partnership 
agreement,  261  ;  Charles  Dickens, 
jun.,  becomes  sub-editor  of,  390 

Allingham,  William,  96,  113 

Allison,  Mrs.,  367 

Argyll,  Duke  of,  204 

Arnold,  Matthew,  47 

Atheiueum,  101,  286,  n. 

Atlantic  Monthly,  381 

Austin,  Henry,  49,  56,  181,  187 

Mrs.  Henry  (Dickens's  sister), 

335 

Baines,  Mr.,  57 

Bamford,|Mr.,  61 

Barclay-Allardice,  Robert,  284 

Barings'  Bank,  176 

Barnard,  Mr.,  132,  1.38,  139 

Barrow,  Robert,  283—4 

Bates,  Mr.,  175 

Beale,  Mr.,  348 

Beard,  Frank,  56,  147,  153,  333—4, 

395 
Beaucourt,  M.,  97,  129 
Beecher,  Ward,  377 
Bell,  Robert,  44 

Mrs.,  123 

Bennett,  W.  C,  91—2 

Hentley's  Mhicellany ,  1 — 5 

Berry,  Mr.,  292—3 

Berwick,    Miss  (jiee  vndei-   Procter, 

Adelaide). 
Birtles,  Mr.,  317,  329,  330,  338,  341, 

348,  352,  361 
Blacker,  Mrs.,  262,  268—9 
Blackwood,  publisher,  249,  266 


Blanchard,  Sydney,  386 

Bowring,  Mr.,  342 

Boyle,  Hon.  Mary,  59,  285,  346,  351 

Brackenbury  and  Wynne,  230 

Bradbury,  William,  19, 134,  139, 196 
223 

Bradbury  and  Evans,  123,126,  134, 
177,  209,  215—6,  2.36—7,  306  ; 
and  Dickens's  separation  from  his 
wife,  238  ;  Dickens's  disagreement 
with,  252 — 7  ;  founding  Oiice  a 
Week,  269,  n. 

Breach,  Mr.,  173—4,  176 

Brockedon,  Mr.,  60—1,  102 

Brough,  Mr.,  170 

Brown,  Commodore,  68 

Mrs.,  180—2 

Brown  and  Shipley,  361 

Browne,  Mr.,  177—8 

Brownlow,  Mr.,  98 

Bruce,  Downing,  37,  164 

Buckingham,  Second  Duke  of,  45 

Buckland,  Frank,  198 

Buckstone,  actor,  125,  209,  232 

Bulwer  Lytton,  Sir  Edward,  40,  44, 
47,  51—2,  59—60,  76,  190,  285—9, 
293—4,  298 

Bunbury,  Miss,  72 

Burdett-Coutts,  Baroness,  xii,  66,  77, 
80—1,  95,  98,  181—3,  190,  207, 
237,  243,  348,  353,  366  ;  Wills 
becomes  secretary  to,  157,  185 — 6, 
201—2,  210—11  ;  in  Switzer- 
land, 287  ;  and  Empress  Eugdnie, 
302 

Callaohan,  attendant,  57,  66,  71, 

78 
Canning,  Sir  Stratford,  45 
Card.ale,  Mrs.,  127 


398 


INDEX. 


Cardigan,  Lord,  x 

Carleton,  Mr.,  152—3 

Carlisle,  Lord,  82 

Carlyle,  Thomas,  2U,  266,  Sol 

Carrington,  Lord,  16 

Carter,  Mr.,  223 

Cattermole,  George,  386 

Caudle,  Mr.,  95 

Chadwick,  Mr.,  72 

Chambers,  Mr.,  51,  .53 

Janet   («ee  inider  Wills,    Mrs. 

W.  H.). 

Robert,  xi,  282,  n.  ;  "Tradi- 
tions of  Edinbur^'h,"  300; 
"  Vestiges  of  Creation,"  3.52  ; 
death  of  his  second  wife,  396 

William,  x,  xi,  282,  n. 

Clianibers'g  Jmirnal,  x,  xiii,  195,  250 

Chapman,  Mr.,  88 

Frederick,  279,  286 

Chapman  and  Hall,  286,  289 

Chappell  &  Co.,  347,  353,  362,  382 

"  Charter  House  Charity,  The,"  177 
184 

Chesterton,  Mr.,  51 

Chisholm,  Mrs.,  24,  n. 

Chorley,  Henry  Fothergill,  286,  337 
—8 

Chute,  Mr.,  69 

Civil  Service  Gazette,  162—166 

Clarke,  Mrs.  Cowden,  365 

Cleopatra's  Needle,  373,  n. 

Coe,  Mr.,  69,  86 

Mrs.,  69 

Collins,  Charles  Allston,  238,  242, 
251,  285.  306,  329  ;  engage- 
ment, 277  ;  illness.  388 

Mrs.  C.  A.,  238  (nee  also  under 

Dickens,  Catherine). 

Wilkie,   44,  97,   135,   1.57.  160, 

192,  203,  206,  213—18,  242—4, 
247—9,  2.56,  264—5,  270,  275— 
0,  280—2,  304—5,  309,  339—41, 
374,  365  ;  "  The  Frozen  Deep," 
223—31,  240  ;  engaged  on  Ilmisc- 
hold  Words  staff,  221—3,  238; 
"  The  Dead  Secret,"  223,  n. ; 
"The  Idle  Apprentice,"  226— 
36;    "No   Name,"   307;    and  the 


Collins,  W\\\i\(i— continued. 
Garrick  Club,  341—3;  "Arma- 
dale," play,  352  ;  "  The  Moon- 
stone," 360,  386  ;  assists  at  All 
tlie  Year  Round  office,  369—70; 
illness,  381  ;  "  No  Thoroughfare," 
play,  391 

Cooper,  Mr.,  127,  133,  142 

Thomas,  15 

Coote,  Mr.,  80,  83 

Cornhill  Magazine,  195,  336,  n. 

Costello,  Miss,  114 

Dudley,    xv,    44,    62,    82,    103 

147—9,  299 

Coutts,  Miss  (jicc  under  Burdett- 
Coutts,  Baroness). 

Coutts'  Bank.  108,  124,  144,  199— 
202,  206,  220,  237,  272,  306,  367, 
382 

Covent  Garden  Theatre,  216,  n. 

Craik,  Georgiana  M.,  93 

Crowe,  Mrs.  Catherine,  23 

Cruikshank,  George,  110 

Cula,  steamer,  367,  371,  378 

Cunningham,  Teter,  44,  71,  107,  172 


Daily  News,  xi,  4,  7—16,  165,  2.50 

Telegraph,  46 

Davey,  Mr.,  130 

Davis,  Mr.,  276 

Devonshire,  Duke  of,  44,  62,  n.,  72 

Dickens,  Mrs.  (another),  276,  284  ; 
death,  330 

Mrs.    (wife'),    35,   45,    53,    78, 

103,  107,  120,  123,  128,  155, 
189,  198,  215,  228  ;  ill-health, 
231  ;  separation,  238 

Alfred    (J>rother\  178,  180—1, 

275,  284 

Augustus     (^youngest     Irrotlier'), 

147,  215 

Catherine    (Katey),    179,    219, 

274,  287,  351  {see  also  under 
Collins,  Mrs.  C.  A.) 

Charles,  his  restless  energy,  vi 

358 ;  appreci.ation  of  Wills, 
xi  ;  edits  Daily  News,  xi,  7 — 
11  ;  edits  lJentley'tMi.scellanyj 


INDEX. 


399 


Dickens,  Charles — contintied. 

3 — 5  ;    joint    proprietor    and 
editor   of   Household     Words, 
19  ;  its   scope  and  aims,  20  ; 
his  suggestions  for  its   title, 
21  ;  in  Paris,  27—8  ;  obtains  a 
pension  for  John  Poole,  28, 108; 
birth   of    his  daughter    Dora 
Annie,  35  ;  and  the  Guild  of 
Literature  and  Art,   44,  45  ; 
death   of    his    daughter    and 
father,  45,  54  ;  on  advertising, 
59,  61  ;  on  G.  A.  Sala,  65,  70  ; 
on  the  deficiencies  of  House- 
hold Words,  73  ;  on  the  loss  of 
a  friend,  81  ;  an  imitator  of^ 
93  ;  tour  in  Switzerland,  97  ; 
takes  a  chateau  at  Boulogne, 
102,  129  ;    his  courier,  118— 
9   ;      his      "  Hard      Times  " 
doubles    the    circulation    of 
Household  Words,   121  ;  com- 
pletes "  Hard   Times,"    131 — 
3  ;   purchase    of    Gad's  Hill, 
157,    180—1,    187,    192,    210, 
216,   217,  388  ;   on  Wills  and 
the  Civil  Service  Gazette,  162 
— 6  ;    on   a  story  by   Holme 
Lee,  168,  169  ;  begins  "  Little 
Dorrit,"  169—73  ;  adventures 
in  Paris,  177—82  ;    and  Miss 
Martineau's  charges,   192 — 4, 
198—200  ;  and  Forster's  share 
in  Household  Words,  195 — 7  ; 
and    Wilkie     Collins's    "The 
Frozen  Deep,"  219,  223—31  ; 
removes  to   Gad's  Hill,  226  ; 
"  The  Idle  Apprentices  ' '  Tour, 
226 — 36  ;   separation  from  his 
wife,  238  ;    "reading"  tour, 
1858. ..239  seq.;    on   his  im- 
pressionable  mind,  247  ;  dis- 
agreement with  Bradbury  and 
Evans,    252—7  ;    founds   All 
the  Year  Itound,  261  ;  partner- 
ship agreement,  261,  271  ;  ill- 
health,   270  ;   sells  Tavistock 
House,  276,  280  ;  destroys  his 
papers,   281  ;  his  heavy  bur- 


Dickens,  Charles — continued. 

dens,  284  ;  success  of  "  Great 
Expectations,"  286  ;  on  the 
American  War,  287  ;  scene  at 
Glasgow  "  reading,"  295 — -1  ; 
Macready  on  Dickens's  read- 
ing, 804  ;  loses  a  bet,  304 — 5  ; 
gift  to  Wills,  307,  308  ;  in 
Paris,  311 ;  on  J,  G.  Lockhart, 
315 — 6  ;  readings  in  Paris 
for  charity,  326—8  ;  "Mrs. 
Lirriper's  Lodgings,"  329  — 
39  ;  death  of  his  mother, 
330  ;  death  of  his  son  Sydney, 
331,  n.  ;  in  a  railway  accident, 
340,  345 — 6  ;  resigns  mem- 
bership of  Garrick  Club,  341, 
343  ;  the  "  Chappell  "  reading 
tour,  347 — 9  ;  American 
reading  tour,  353  seq.  ;  on  the 
farewell  dinner  to  him,  354 
— 5  ;  circulation  of  his  Christ- 
mas number,  "  Mugby  Junc- 
tion," 356  ;  profit  of  American 
tour,  358  ;  on  his  own  restless 
activity,  358  ;  on  Wilkie 
Collins's  "  The  Moonstone," 
360,  386  ;  illness,  377  ;  list  of 
American  readings,  380 ; 
returns  to  England,  383  ;  buys 
land  at  Gadshill,  388  ;  parting 
with  his  youngest  son,  389  ; 
illness,  389—91  ;  death,  394  ; 
effect  on  himself  of  his  read- 
ings, 395 

Charley  (eldest  son),  158,  175 — 

6,  217,  286, 388—9  ;  sub-editor 
of  All  the  Year  Round,  390 

Dora  Annie  (daughter'),  35,  n.  ; 

death,  45 

Edward  B.L.('Plornishghenter,' 

yau/igest  son),  78,  123,  337, 
366,  377  ;  departure  for 
Australia,   389 

Francis     Jeffrey    {third    son), 

287,  304,  312,  320,  327 

Frederick      (second      brother), 

228 

H.  F.,  K.C.  (son),  v,  76,  n. 


400 


INDEX. 


Dickens,  John  (father),  24,  49,  57  ; 

death,  45,  54 
Mary    (Mamie,    (laughtej%   v., 

xiv.,  147,  219,  280,  287,  298, 

302,  309,  311,  351,  366 
Sydney  S.  H.  ("  the  Admiral," 

fifth  son),  280,  298,  363 

"Walter  Landor  (so)i),  216,  230  ; 

death,  331,  n. 
Dixon,   W,  Hepworth,  101,  n.,  109, 

139,  174,  185,  204 
Dodd,  Mr.,  102 
Dolby,  George  (Dickens's  agent  for 

the   "  Readings  "),     347,   354 

—5,   360—5,  368—9,  373—8, 

381—2 

Mrs.,  382 

Dulcamara,  Dr.,  255 
Dumas  fils,  50 

Edmund,  Mr.,  343,  385 

Edwards,  Miss,  319 

Egg,  Augustus,  43—4,  97,  153 

Eliot,  George,  266 

Ellen,  servant,  353 

EUiotson,  Dr.  109—10,  223 

Eugenie,  ex-Empress,  302 

Evans,  Frederick  M.  (joint  proprietor 
of  Household  Words'),  19,  56,  59, 
80,  138—9,  144,  150,  167,  237, 
271,  273  ;  and  Himsrhold  Words 
accounts,  252 — 4 

Fauiiek,  Mr.,  352 

Featherstone,  Miss,  125 

Fechter,  actor,  341,  343,  391 

Fenning,  Eliza,  359,  361 

Field,  Inspector,  41—2,  80 

Fields,  James  T.,  362—3,  369,  371 

F'illonneau,  Mrs.,  201 

Fitzgerald,  Percy,  361,  385,  388 

Fitzwilliam,  Mrs.,  125 

Foote,  Samuel,  112,  n. 

Ford,  Rev.  Mr.,  237 

Forstcr,  John,  25—7,  30,  38,  44, 
48,  59,  69,  76,  n.,  98,  103, 
111,  116,  12.3—7,  140,  145—8, 
151, 156—8,  175, 188,  195,  200, 
203,    217,    229,     274—6,   305, 


Forster,  John — coniinued. 

331  ;  quoted,  xi  ;  '*  Life  of 
Charles  Dickens,"  xiv,  121, 
226  —  7  ;  joint  proprietor 
Household  Woi'ds,  19  ;  and  the 
Trelawney  Ballad,  90  ;  illness, 
109,  110  ;  his  share  in  House- 
hold Words,  196,  212,  253—5  ; 
and  Tavistock  House,  263  ; 
letter  quoted,  264  ;  and  the 
Leech  sale,  345  ;  relations  with 
Wills,  350  ;  and  Dickens's 
American  tour,  357 — 9, 364 — 5 

Mrs.  John,  264,  274—6 

Fortnightly  Review,  346 

Foster,  Mr.,  55 

Franklin,  Sir  John,  156 

Lady,  157 


Gabeick  Club,  262,  332—3,  339, 
341,  343 

Gaskell,  Mrs.,  20,  23,  42—3,  93,  122, 
126, 137, 151, 176,  266 ;"  North 
and  South,"  in  Household 
Words,  134—5,  141—5,  155; 
"  My  Lady  Ludlow,"  242  ;  "  A 
Dark  Night's  Work,"  318, 
321—5 

Rev.  Mr.,  161 

General  Theatrical  Fund,  9—11 
35,  n. 

Gillies,  Miss,  95 

Gleig,  Mr.,  285 

Gordon,  Mr.,  293, 296 

Mrs.,  315 

Great  Exhibition  (1851),  62.  65 

Greatorcx,  C,  392 

Greening,  Mr.,  24,  26,  64 

Grey,  Lady,  59 

Grieve,  Thomas,  44 

Guild  of  Literature  and  Art,  xii,  xv, 
44_5,  55,  59,  62,  66,  69,  72,  76,  79, 
80,  84,  88,  97,  109,  131,  133,  140, 
150,  153,  384—5 

Guizot,  M.,  255,  n. 


IIaohe,  Lewis,  45 
Hale,  Mr.,  177 


INDEX. 


401 


Hall  k  Co.,  218 
Halliday,  Mr.,  319,  343,  356 
Hannay,  James,  58,  61,  6o,  69,  n.,  8o 
Harper  Bros.,  271,  324 
Harrisons,  prbderx,  324 
Harwood,  Mr.,  317 
Hawker,  Rev.  R.  S.,  90,  n. 
Haydn,  Mr.,  110 

Headland,    mamger,    28»,    ^^^     ^' 
296,  329 

Henri,  servant,  135,  382 

Henry.  Mr.,  84 

Hill,  Rowland,  25 

Hobhouse,  Mr.,  271 

Hogarth,  Mr.,  24,  173 

Mrs.,  202 

Georgina,  v,  xiv,  39,  103,  107, 

123,  142,  155,  179,  182,  219, 
280',  287,  298,  301,  n.,  302,  309, 
311,  339-40,  366,  392 

^dswortii,   Mr.,    53,   173-4,   188. 

241,  285,  288,  316,  337,  385 
Hollingshead,  John,  236 
Hollyer,  Mr.,  230 
Holmes,  0.  W.,  368 
Holt,  Mr.,  160 
Hood,  Thomas,  88 

Home,  Richard  H.,  20.  33-40  44, 
49  61—2,  66,  n.,  68—9, 
77L8,  84—5, 113,  n.,  323,  343  ; 
dinner  to.  80  ;  in  Australia, 
94 

Mrs.  R.  H.,  94,  140 

Horner,  Mrs.,  122 

Household  Words,  xi,  xm ;  Office 
Book  of,  xiv  ;  partnership  agree- 
ment, 19  ;  scope  and  aims  of,  20  ; 
Dickens's  suggestions  for  its  title, 
21  ;  winding  up  of,  238  ;  accounts 
of,  252—3  ;  stock  and  title   sold, 

261 
Howitt,    William,    12,    20,    66,   85, 

198 

Miss,  65 

Hullah,  John  Fyke,  267 

Hunt,  Leigh,  80,  96,   108,  113,   n.. 

114,  156 
Hunt  and  Roskcll,  307,  314 

D.E. 


Illustrated  London  News,  14 
Ingram,  Herbert,  217,  282 


JEPHSON,  Mr.,  187 

Jcrrold,  Douglas,  9,  44,  71,  105,  232  ; 
death,  226 

Jewsbury,  Geraldine,  71 

John,  servant,  113,  135,  139,  144, 
147,  158,  170,  189,  202,  207-8, 
216-18,  237,  240-1,  266,  288, 
290,  316,  320,  324-6,  362  ;  ill- 
ness, 333—4 

Johnson,  President  Andrew,  379,  n. 

Johnson,  i^rmto-,  53-6,  59,83,  109, 

185.  216.  273.  279,  288,  291—2 
Jolly,  Emily,  167,  n. 
Jones,  Gale,  167,  n. 

Kamb,  Edward,  116—19 
Keith,  Mr.,  72 
Kelly,  Mrs.,  344,  367 
Kemble,      Adelaide       (.see       under 
Sartoris,  Mrs.) 

Charles,  336,  n. 

Fanny,  348 

Kinglake's  "  Crimea,"  326 

Kitton,  F.  J.,  262 

Knight,  Charles,  34,  n.,  44—6, 53,  o7, 

61 
Knowles,  Mr.,  361 


LAING,  Mr.,  132 

Lamb,  Mr.,  156 

Land,  Mr.,  56 

Landells,  Mr.,  x 

Landeeer,  Sir  Edwin,  185,  206 

Law,  Mr.,  75 

Lee,     Holme      {see      under      larr, 

Harriett) 
Leech,  John,  xii,  42  ;  at  Boulogne, 
108  ;  sale  of  his  effects,  34o 

Mrs.,  108 

Lehmann,  Frederick,  302,  320 

Nina, 302 

R.  C,  308 

Lemon,  Betty,  130 
Lally,  130 

D    D 


402 


INDEX. 


Lemon,  Mark,  x,  42—4, 56 — 7, 66,  69, 
94,  120—2,  124—5,  128,  183,  209, 
217 

Lever,  Charles,  272,  299,  308—10 

Lewis,  Thomas,  50,  275 

Lind,  Jenny,  292 

Linton,  W.  J.,  107,  n. 

Lock,  Mr.,  230 

Lockhart,  J.  G.,  315 — 6 

Longfellow,  H.  W.,  368 

Low,  Sampson,  321 

Lynn-Linton  {nee  Lynn),  Mrs., 
107—8,  136,  141,  154,  169—71, 
188,  277—8,  295,  315—6,  385; 
sells  Gad's  Hill  to  Dickens,  157 

Lytton,  Robert,  2nd  Lord,  290,  303, 
322,  369,  n.,  378 

McCULLOCH,  John  R.,  114 

Maclise,  Daniel,  28,  227—8 

Macready,  W.  C,  48,  69,  124,  229, 
251  ;  on  Dickens's  reading  of 
"  Copperfield,"  304 

Manley,  Mr.,  12 

Marryat,  Miss,  356 

Marsh,  Mr.,  340 

Marston,  J.  Westland,  44 

Martell,  Mrs.,  208 

Martin  eau,  Harriet,  20,  26,  36—7, 
66,  90—3,  141,  154,  205  ;  charges 
against  Dickens,  192 — 200  ;  anec- 
dote of,  249 

Mason,  Mr.,  30,  353 

Masson,  Prof.,  266,  n. 

Matz,  B.  W.,  262 

Mayhew,  Henry,  x 

Mazzini,  Joseph,  175 

Measom,  Malcolm  R.  L,,  197 

Mendicity  Society,  56 

Meredith,  George,  270 

Mrs.,  252 

Meriton,  Mr.,  170 

Mitchell,  Mr,,  69—60,  348 

Molcsworth,  Lady,  320 

Morgan,  apothecary,  202 

Morley,  Henry,  20,  42.  57,  n.,  61,  67 
—9,  75,  78,  83,  86,  91,  106,  118, 
126,  129,  134,  137.  149,  155,  160, 
171,    177,    200—5,    214—5,     221, 


Morley,  Henry — continued. 

268,  295,  299,  306,  310—14,  331, 
337,  341,  388  ;  his  articles  on 
Factory  Reform,  192—9  ;  Dickens 
on,  285 

Morning  Advertiser,  78 

Mortlock,  Mrs.,  208 

Morton,  Mr.,  86 

Mulholland,  Miss,  385 

Murray,  E.  C.  Grenville,  45—6,  51, 
95,  175,  305,  318—9,  372 

Mylne,  Mr.,  150 

Nathan,  Mr.,  69 

National    Association    of    Manufac- 
turers, 193 
Newgate  Market,  228 
Northumberland,  Duke  of,  204 
Novelli,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  281 

Ollier,  Mr.,  114,  117,  189,  318 
OimG  family,  190,  315 

Lady,  320 

Once  a  Week,  269,  274 

Orr,  W.  S„  32 

Osgootl,  Mr.,  379 

"  Our  Young  Folks,"  371,  n. 

Ouvry,  solicitor,  210,  253,  257,  267, 

271,  350—2 
Oxenford,  John,  236 

Palmeeston,  Lord.  285 
Panizzi,  Sir  Antonio,  389 
Parkinson,  J.  C,  376 
Parr,  Harriett  ("Holme  Lee"),  147, 

168,  n.,  311 
Patmore,  Coventry,  33,  n. 
Paxton,  Sir  Joseph,  40,  56,  62 
Payn,   James,   21,    205,   225,    248; 

quoted.  194—5,  249—51 
Phillipps,  Mr.,  84 
Pitt,  scene  painter,  49 
Poole,  John,  159,  198,  206,  219,  272, 

309,  335,  366  ;   Dickens  obtains  a 

pension    for,    28,    108 ;     Dickens 

visits,  392 
Powell,  Mr.,  15 

Power.  Miss,  288,  312,  321,  342 
Priestley,  R.  C,  v 


INDEX. 


403 


Priestley,  Lady,  v 

Prince,  John  C,  87 

Procter,  Adelaide  ("  Miss  Berwick  "), 

99,  121,  267 
Punch,  X,  9,  62,  111,  285,  345,  n. 

"  Queen's  Messenger,"  46 
Quin,  Lord  George,  116 

Rachel,  Madame,  27,  28 

Radley,  Mr.,  301 

Rae,  Dr.,  156 

Reade,    Charles,    281.   303—5  ;    his 

"Hard  Cash,"  323—5 
Rintoul,  Robert  S.,  114,  n. 
Roberts,  David,  9,  56 
Robertson,  John,  173,  183,  384 
RufRni,  Agostino,  266,  n. 

Giovanni,  266 

Russell,  George,  339 
Russia,  steamer,  377 

Sala,  George  Augustus,  46,  71,  83, 
86—89, 98, 99, 103, 106—109, 113— 
116,  124,  136,  137,  143,  154,  n., 
174,  175,  208,  213,  214,  218,  225, 
236,  285,  313,  335,  348,  386  ; 
Dickens  on,  66,  70 

Samee,  Mrs.  Ramo,  207,  208 

Sammins,  W.  L.,  3 

Sartoris,  Mrs.,  336 

Edward  John,  336,  n. 

Saunders,  family,  185,  284 

Sawyer,  Rev.  W.  C,  337 

Scheffer,  painter,  190 

Schloss,  dealer,  345,  356 

Scotsman,  295 

Scott,  Mr.,  71,  373 

Mrs.,  367 

Shaw,  Sir  Charles,  155 

Sidney,  Mr.,  136,  188,  366 

Simpson,  Palgrave,  343 

Simpson's,  55 

Skinner's,  tailors,  316 

Sloman,  Mr.,  49,  83,  88 

Smart,  Mr.,  82 

Smith,  Albert,  208,  226 


Smith,  Arthur,  226,  234,  243—246, 
274,  286  ;  manages  Dickens's 
"reading"  tour,  238,  241; 
death,  289,  349 

Joseph,  58 

Snow,  Mr.,  214 

Spectator,  114,  n. 

Spence,  Mr.,  299 

Spicer,  Mr.,  285,  286,  306,  319,  330 

Spielmann,  Mr.  H.,  xiii 

Stacey,  Mr.,  23,  94 

Stanfield,  Clarkson,  9,  14,  39,  56, 
212,  224,  270.  304,  305 

Stanton,  Edwin  M.,  379,  n. 

Stephen,  Sir  Leslie;  195 

Stone,  Dr.,  41,  n. 

Mrs.,  83 

Frank,  44,  82,  83,  275,  n. 

Marcus,  275,  n.,  285.  331 

Storrar,  Dr.,  109 

Sunday  Gazette,  363 

Sydney,  Mr.,  76,  204 

Tauchnitz,  Baron,  84,  86 

Telbin,  Mr.,  45 

Temjde  Bar,  47 

Tennent,  Sir  James  E.,  366 

Tenniel,  John,  44 

Tennyson,  Lord,  189 

Thackeray,  W.   M.,    177,  226  ;  and 

Yates,  262,  332,  333 
Thomas,   William  Moy,  83,  88,  92, 

103,  128,  197,  205 
Thornbury,     George    "Walter,     268, 

269,  359 
Thornton,  Mr.,  53 
Ticknor  and  Fields,  281,  375 
Times,  137,  236,  250,  274,  282,  285, 

289,  337,  363 
Tinsley,  Mr.,  351 
Topham,  F.  W.,  44 
Topping,  serraTit,  70 — 1 
Toussenel,  M.,  112—3 
Townshend,  Chauncey  Hare,  135 — 6, 

140—1.  184,  335,  370,  382 
Train,  The,  47,  236 
TroUope,  Anthony,  266,  308 

Upcott,  Mr.,  361 


404 


INDEX. 


Vale,  Mr.,  40 

"Victoria,  Queen,  241,  300—1 

Von  Goetnitz,  Mr.,  244,  n. 

Wales,  Prince  of,  273—4 

Wallack,  M.,  374 

Walpole,  Miss,  207 

Watson,  Mr.,  395 

R.,  77,  81 

Hon.  Mrs.  R.,  81,  116, 157, 184, 

189—90 

Wellington,  Duke  of,  91—2 

Wheatstone,  Mr.,  184 

White,  Rev.  James,  170,  186,  192, 
199,  201,  206,  209,  248 

Whitehead,  Charles,  191 

Whitings,  printers,  265,  269,  272 

Whitly,  Mr.,  268 

Wigan,  Alfred,  247,  n. 

Horace,  352 

Wills,  William  Henry,  birth,  vi  ; 
on  his  journey  to  London, 
vii — ix  ;  school  and  journ- 
alism, ix ;  writes  for  Punch, 
X  ;  assistant  editor  Chambers' 
Journal,  x  ;  marriage,  xi  ; 
sub-editor  Daily  Keivs,  xi  ; 
assistant  editor  Himsehold 
Words,  xi  ;  Dickens's  appre- 
ciation of,  xi ;  almoner  secre- 
tary to  Miss  Coutts,  xii,  157, 
185—6,  201—2;  love  of 
foxhunting,  xii ;  his  person- 
ality, xii  ;  riding  accident, 
xiii,  378 — 385  ;  appointed 
magistrate,  xiii ;  death,  xiii ; 
his  works,  xiii  ;  his  letters, 
XV  ;  joint  proprietor  Himse- 
hold Words,  19  ;  his  letters 
quoted,  30—2,  85—6,  48— 
9,     73—5  ;      164—6  ;     and 


Wills,  William  Henry — continued. 

R.  H.  Home,  34—8  ;  secre- 
tary to  the  Guild  of  Litera- 
ture and  Art,  44 — 5  ;  ill- 
health,  121,  267—9,  273, 
335 — 8,  347  ;  his  mother's 
death,  155  ;  offered  the  editor- 
ship of  the  Civil  Service 
Gazette,  162 — 6  ;  James  Payn 
on,  194 — 5 ;  his  share  in 
All  tJie  Year  Round,  261,  271  ; 
at  Llandudno,  278  ;  in  Switzer- 
land, 287  ;  in  Paris,  302  ; 
Dickens's  gift  to,  307—8; 
his  work  on  All  the  Year 
Mound,  334  ;  presents  a 
brougham  to  Dickens,  339 
— 40  ;  and  Leech's  sale,  345  ; 
relations  with  i"'orster,  350  ; 
advice  to  Dickens  on  his 
American  tour,  357,  364 ; 
retirement,  390. 

Mrs.  W.  H.,  xi,  38,  85,  123,  130 

144,  155,    171,    223,   228,    242—9, 
269,    275,  278,    281—2,  287,   302, 
318,  330,  339.  345,  361,  369,  372 
—3,  376—7,  380—2,  386,  392—6  ; 
death,   xiv  ;   Dickens's  letters  to, 
120—1,   211,    229,   336—7,  347— 
350,  383—4,  389  ;  legacy  to  R.  C. 
Lehmann,  308 
Wilson,  Sir  Erasmus,  73 
Woods,  agents,  293,  296 
World,  i6,  262 


Yates,  Edmund,  46—7,  236,  265, 
268,  320,  331,  385  ;  and  Thackeray, 
262,  332—3 

Young,  Mr.,  178 

Miss,  69 


BHAOBIIRV     AUNEW     &  CO     LD      PRINTEas,   LONDON   AND  TUNBBIUOE 


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